#visitpennsylvania

[lifeinexperiences]

Moravian Pottery and Tile Works - Quick, Local Adventure

Today my friend Gina and I took a journey to a local piece of history I had been dying to explore.  On a sunny, but cold, Sunday morning we spent $5 each to take the 40 minute tour of the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, a Bucks County artifact.  Built in 1912 by Henry C. Mercer as a tile factory, this building was rehabbed in the 60′s by the County and still operates! 

The tour starts with a 15 minute video explaining the history of the factory, the process of creating tile in the traditional way, and the story behind Mercer’s work.  We sat in rows of white chairs, a fire burning in the fireplace behind us, with a small group watching the video.  

The tour is self guided and signs throughout the building lead the way.   We were relieved to see we could go at our own pace and didn’t need to stay with the group or keep up.

Some tiles stand out and have their own stories about the mold that made them or a new design Mercer had successfully created to get to that result.  He found influence all over the world, from different time periods and religious influences.  The tiles throughout the building tell of a story of a man who saw beauty and art everywhere. 

The views through the antique windows are breathtaking and complex.  Grass now grows in the a courtyard that was once used to store coal for the steam engine and clay from local farms (a fact I learned during the video).  

The tour winds through the 2 story building and the cellar, where clay is stored once its ready for use.  There are a few narrow stairways and low ceilings to beware of and many doors to open, all of which seemed to have a different latch mechanism!  

The original machinery has all been perfectly preserved and laid out so that visitors can see the process start to finish.  

The tour comes to a climax in the workshop, where artists are hard at work fulfilling architectural tile orders and tiles to be sold in the gift shop.  Four full time artists work there creating tile using Mercer’s traditional processes.  One artist told us that he graduated from Temple’s Tyler School of Art having studied ceramics.  He has worked there for the last 18 years.  As he spoke, he calmly kneaded clay and cut it in thin slices to be molded. 

The tour winds through a few last rooms displaying larger, more artistic pieces and original equipment used by Mercer and the artisans he employed.  Tile Works still has an apprenticeship program and offers classes for local artists who want to learn the craft.  

As every museum tour does, it all ends in the gift shop. There are beautiful photos of their tile in modern kitchens and adorning fireplaces. Visitors can purchase individual tiles ranging from small tokens to large pieces of mosaic artwork.   This hour long experience is a trip through history and a view of artists working to preserve and do it justice. 

[wadew91]

Throughout the centuries there were men and women who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision...⁣ ⁣ 📸 @theroadtothere⁣ ⁣ #dontknowwhatstateiwasin #visitpennsylvania #visitvirginia #visitnewyork #fallcolors🍁🍂 #autumnvibes🍁 #portraitphotography (at Bedford, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5VBPVQFhd3/?igshid=ibupg1tlcpgp

[keeneydesignme]

Here are two more from this afternoon up at White Rocks on South Mountain outside of Pond Bank, Pa. #whiterock #visitpennsylvania #mountains #hiking #hikingadventures #mountianclimbing #rsa_country_ #rsa_country #beauty #rawlandscape #raw_country #raw_wilderness #pondbank (at Pond Bank, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx_JCXsB2Qnykps2kz8prOalcEu_kOvB3wrCCU0/?igshid=1nfjfy68ejv97

[keeneydesignme]

Photo from last weekend trip up in Pittsburgh, Fort Pitt bridge over the Monongahela river and you can see Fort Pitt Tunnel in the background . #pittsburgh #fortpitt #everythingpittsburgh #visitpennsylvania #bridges #monongahelariver #riverside #rivers #ruralbridges #paexplore #raw_architecture (at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv-cLv4BXSv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fpcqk1p83po5

[keeneydesignme]

Some photos that I took over this past weekend up in Pittsburgh, Pa. These photos are of the 1884 historical landmark of Carrie Blast Furnance in Rankin, Pa., The last two i took the photos from thw Carrie Pumping house across the river which, I will post pictures of this building in coming days. Most likely will go back here when the tours are open to get some closer photo shots of this Mega Power House. #riversofsteel #steelmills #homesteadpa #visitpa #visitpennsylvania #raw_abandoned #ruralabandoned #abandonbuildingphotography (at Rivers of Steel: Carrie Blast Furnaces) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv2qpowhKWm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cpbaas0o6wg9

[keeneydesignme]

6th stop of today which l think this beautiful covered Bridge at Jackson's Mill outside of Breezewood, Pa.. it is so.much better when to sun comes out for you too! #coveredbridge #pacoveredbridges #bedfordcountypa #visitpa #visitpennsylvania #raw_featured #raw_country #rural_landscapes (at Jackson's Mill Covered Bridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsKC5LhcTQqq7yR9alJY6GaaEezRoBj7A8oO40/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16aupo60n39ly

[keeneydesignme]

Last one for today the 7th stop which, this is about a mile from Jackson's Mill Covered Bridge. This one is privately owned but you are welcome to take photos of it. I wouldn't advice walking thru it, I didn't try and I wasn't going to either. #coveredbridge #abandonedplaces #abandonedbridges #bedfordcountypa #visitpennsylvania #visitpa #pacoveredbridges (at Feltons Mill Covered Bridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsPPt8BmK5TO2Ly3IF2JUrfw2RgDBu4mbHjQ80/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=84djq327i8uy

[keeneydesignme]

6th stop of today which o think this beautiful covered Bridge at Jackson's Mill outside of Breezewood, Pa.. it is so.much better when to sun comes out for you too! #coveredbridge #pacoveredbridges #bedfordcountypa #visitpa #visitpennsylvania #raw_featured #raw_country #rural_landscapes (at Jackson's Mill Covered Bridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsKC5LhcTQqq7yR9alJY6GaaEezRoBj7A8oO40/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5lr6ns46lt8t