This creative project is a brief study of clay tile surface decoration, using commercial 4" x 4" and 6" x 6" tiles, as well as handmade slab-rolled and slumped molded forms. The exploration of surface decoration was based on historical research. An attempt was made to bring these findings into a contemporary personal statement.In my research I found a rich and varied history of clay tiles and their functional as well as decorative uses. Historically, tiles have been used on floors, walls, pillars, ceilings, pathways, rooftops, doorways, and fireplaces in architectural structures. In this project I have explored the use of clay tiles as decorative and functional elements for a countertop and tabletop, and as decorative elements of freestanding objects (boxes). I have also experimented with a non-traditional approach of tile making, using traditional materials, by changing the tiles' two-dimensional surface to a three-dimensional form. / Department of Art

The Rookwood Pottery Company was one of the most outstanding American pottery producers in the early 20th century. Rookwood produced a line of significant architectural facing tiles, unlike anything else produced in the Arts and Crafts tile industry. This thesis is an assimilation of all the primary product. Rookwood's catalogues, commissions, and artisans are discussed to illustrate the design and production significance Rookwood's product. The analysis will be valuable for the documentation and identification of tile installations produced by the Rookwood Pottery Company from 1903-1931. / Department of Architecture