TCNA Members donated benches for the TCNA Booth and Art Tile Courtyard.

AlysEdwards Tile & Stone
Description of Bench

This bench features AlysEdwards’ Kiss My Big Fat Glass, Gigi’s Groovy Stixx, and Fusion Collections, which are produced with recycled glass and come in fabulous colors. The colors in the Fusion Collection are earthy and evoke nature, so this was the theme for the bench’s design. Broken Fusion Glass was used to give the front and top panels an organic free form feel to flow with the vines of nature. Think Green!

B.A. Schmidt Arts & Enterprises
Description of Bench

This enchanted bench was created to be something both beautiful and magical at the same time.

All of the decorative tiles are handmade by Barbara Schmidt, president of B.A. Schmidt Arts & Enterprises. Each tile begins as a hand carved model from which a plaster mold is made, so the tile can be repeated. Each tile is individually hand pressed in the molds, dried, bisque fired, hand glazed and refired to maturity. Each tile is made from a porcelain clay body. The decorative tiles are surrounded by travertine field tile.

The top of the bench is designed with tiles from B.A. Schmidt’s “Yoga Tile Collection.” The tiles are 6″ x 6″ and 4″ x 4″ square, with hands that are covered with motifs derived from antique Indian fabrics. In laying out these tiles, Ms. Schmidt wanted the hands to represent Hands of Peace, and they are arranged as if the tiles are granting a blessing.

The front of the bench is inspired by illustrations by H.J. Ford for Andrew Lang’s Crimson Fairy Book, published in 1902. There are three sets of 6″ x 12″ images on the front of the bench. The first is of a princess looking left watching a ship arriving; the second is a mirror image of the first, with the princess looking right. The third image is of the princess walking off of a boat with birds rising about her. In each corner are four more hands from the Yoga Tile collection.

The back of the bench is also inspired by classic fairy tale illustration. The centerpiece is a

6 x 12″ image of a magical ship, inspired by an illustration by Frank Godwin for a 1921 edition of Andrew Lang’s Blue Fairy Book. On each side is a 6 x 6″ mermaid; the one sitting on a rock is Ms. Schmidt’s own design; the other is inspired by a 1917 illustration by Arthur Rackham for The Romance of King Arthur. Various 4 x 4″ tiles surround the main 6 x 6″ tiles, including two more tiles inspired by Rackham illustrations (Danae and Perseus, and a smaller mermaid), a mermaid based on an 1895 Walter Crane illustration for the Fairy Queen, and some fish tiles.

Both ends of the bench have tiles inspired by William Morris tapestries. The 4 x 4″ tiles, The Hare, The Fox and The Raven, are from motifs on Morris’ 1895 Forest tapestry now hanging in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The 6 x 6″ tiles are from Morris’ Woodpecker Tapestry, created in 1898 for the Arts & Crafts Society Exhibition.

Name of Designer: Barbara Schmidt
Name of Manufacturer: B.A. Schmidt Arts & Enterprises
Name of Installer: Barbara Schmidt

Cercan Tile
Description of Bench

With tile handmade and cut from Lapis Azul semi-precious stone, this unique bench shimmers with vibrant blues and organic shapes. It is a one of a kind, jeweled, luxurious piece.

Name of Designer: Lou Uberti
Name of Manufacturer: Cercan Tile
Name of Installer: Michael Loconte

Clay Decor
Description of Bench

Clay Decor’s bench is made from the Anaglypto series. Versatility and timeless beauty come together in Anaglypto. Inspired by anaglyptic wallpaper from the nineteenth century, this ornately beautiful tile forms a repeating design.

Name of Designer: Anne Foulke
Name of Manufacturer: Clay Decor
Name of Installer: Anne Foulke

Florida Tile
Description of Bench

This bench, entitled “Spring Returns”, has a theme of optimism, renewal, and growth. The design is an abstract depiction of movement that signifies forward momentum and the renewed hope that change can bring. The economy and tile industry have had some rough patches in the recent year, but as we emerge from the recent crisis, hope always springs eternal, and the possibilities before us are endless.

Florida Tile’s bench features a mosaic tile design utilizing their Stellar HDP line in Meridian and Zenith colors, with some areas of VitraArt Tranquil in Cobalt, Shadow, and Meadow.

Name of Designer: Michael Mabe (Graphic Designer for Florida Tile)
Name of Manufacturer: Florida Tile
Name of Installer: Michael Mabe (Graphic Designer for Florida Tile)

Florim USA
Description of Bench

This bench, designed and tiled by Jenifer Shaffer, Florim USA’s marketing and samples supervisor, features Florim’s Corfinio Fresco 6 x 6, Glitz Metal Leaf, and Golden Sun 1 x 1 glass and stone mosaics.

Landmark MetalCoat
Description of Bench

The top of Landmark MetalCoat’s bench features their Damask Medallion (in Brass, High Polish with Brass Golden Gate Glass Mosaic Blend). The ends feature Landmark’s Ravenna Onlay (in Bronze, Highlight Polish with Bronze Latte Glass Mosaic Blend & in Nickel Silver, Highlight Polish with Nickel Silver Moonshadow Glass Mosaic Blend).

The bench’s sides show off Landmark’s Renaissance Deco Quatrefoil Petite in Copper, High Polish with Copper Meritage Glass Mosaic Blend and in Stainless Steel with Stainless Steel Dark Sky Glass Mosaic Blend.

Name of Designer: Jason Pellegrino
Name of Installer: Maria Mendoza Duarte & Virginia Roman
Name of Manufacturer: Landmark MetalCoat

MTM Wizard Enterprise
Description of Bench

The Wizard Enterprise Bench showcases Bison Brick, Wizard’s new line of glazed thin brick. The bench illustrates the versatility of Bison Brick with the use of a brick base, brick molding, and a variety of brick shapes not available in traditional, glazed thin brick product lines. The bench is clad in Matador, a shiny red glaze, with accents in Bronze.

Bison is made from 70% pre-consumer recycled material and is available in 22 glazes and a wide selection of shapes, including brick corners. Bison is made from start to finish in Wizard’s California studio giving us the ability to offer quicker lead times, custom colors, and custom shapes. Bison passed ASTM C1088 and earned an Exterior Grade Rating.

Bison is making its commercial debut at Coverings 2012.

Status Ceramics
Description of Bench

Status Ceramics’ bench, named “Shades of Lilac”, is comprised of Chambord & Aubergine in a Filigree pattern designed by Zsuzsa Bansaghi and fabricated by Iggi Green & Alex Zimmerman.

Name of Designer: Zsuzsa Bansaghi
Name of Manufacturer: Status Ceramics
Name of Installer: Zsofia Dadi; Richard and Sarah Scott

StonePeak Ceramics
Description of Bench

StonePeak’s bench was designed with 6″ x 24″ Materia 3D in Honed and Lappato finishes in a basket weave pattern. The top was designed with the same products in a multi-size strip mosaic in Materia 3D Platinum and Heather Grey colors.

Name of Designer: Paul Ford & Eric Burgess, Neely Tile
Name of Manufacturer: StonePeak Ceramics
Name of Installer: Paul Ford & Eric Burgess, Neely Tile

 

Also donating a bench: Terre Verre