The Evangelist Tiles $17.75 each
In March of 2014, Pennsylvania Governor and his First Lady traveled to the Vatican and presented a special gift to Pope Francis. The gift was four Evangelist tiles produced by the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works. First Lady Corbett chose them as they were a simple gift appropriate for a humble Pope who is accessible and unassuming. She also chose them for their connection to the PA State Capitol building whose floor has Moravian Tiles illustrating the history, flora, and fauna of Pennsylvania.
In preparation for the Pope’s attendance at the World Family Conference in Philadelphia this September, the Tile Works is arranging panels of the Four Evangelists conjoined by a Greek cross , both with and without a Maltese cross border as illustrated. The source for the Evangelist designs is an ancient Romanesque 12th century hand bell from Reims, France. Various reproductions of Evangelist bells were sold throughout Europe as souvenirs in the 19th century, some still being made today. Fonthill has in its collection a souvenir reproduction of the bell that Henry Mercer acquired.
The Evangelist tiles, and all other tiles produced by the Moravian Tile Works, are made from local Bucks County red clay.
Call or write us to order your tiles, we tend to have stock of them in Blue, Green, and Black Underglaze as well as our matt Blue Slip, but we can make them in any of our standard colors. They are also available as a lovely plaque suitable for hanging.