The Experience
The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is as unusual as Henry Chapman Mercer, the eccentric genius of the Arts and Crafts Movement who created it. With its elaborately decorated chimneys, red roof tiles and open courtyard, the building resembles a super-sized Spanish mission. During their heyday, Mercer’s tiles were considered among the world’s best.
Today, the refurbished site again produces tiles using original methods, designs and almost identical glazes. The self-guided tour begins with a video in Mercer’s former design studio; then, winding staircases lead you through clay mixing stations, design rooms, kilns, and other production areas. Mercer’s intricate tile fireplace steals the show. Harper’s Magazine ranked the gift shop, which sells only tiles made on-site, among the world’s 10 best. The Tile Works is situated on Mercer’s former farm estate alongside the Fonthill Museum.
History
Fearing that the Industrial Revolution would render the techniques used in handmade ceramics extinct, Mercer established his tile business. It made him a hero of the Arts and Craft Movement (1870-1900), which emerged in part as a reaction to the loss of artisans’ skills. His creative tile works in that style adorn both public and private buildings, such as the Pennsylvania State Capitol and Fonthill.