Tile Heritage Foundation

for the research and preservation
of ceramic surfaces

Guardian of American Tile History

Tile Heritage Foundation (THF), established in 1987, is a member-supported, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to protect and preserve the history of the American tile industry. THF is dedicated to promoting an awareness and appreciation of ceramic surfaces in the United States.

THF serves as an archive that embraces all aspects of the American tile industry, from the industry’s emergence in the 1870s to the present time, validating the significance of American tile for posterity.

Our Story
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Shards ’n Snippets

News Briefs

Four New Board Members Join the THF Board of Directors

The Tile Heritage Foundation (THF) is growing — embarking upon a critical new chapter in its mission to protect and preserve the history of the...
> Read More about Four New Board Members Join the THF Board of Directors

Tile Heritage Foundation Names Karim Motawi as Executive Director of Development

The Tile Heritage Foundation (THF) is beginning a critical new chapter in its mission to protect and preserve the history of the American tile industry....
> Read More about Tile Heritage Foundation Names Karim Motawi as Executive Director of Development

THF Cross-Country Move!

Thank you ALL for your amazing support. We reached the first goal of $50,000 to funding the THF "move" to South Carolina.   THF Tile Collection...
> Read More about THF Cross-Country Move!
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Newsletter

Ella Schaap Honored Recipient of the Tile Heritage Award

Born (1913) and reared in the Netherlands, Ella Schaap (née Sanders) came to the U.S. to attend college in the early 1930s. Diverted from her educational goals, she married Dolf Schaap in 1934 and returned to Europe eventually giving birth to their three daughters. In the 1940s the couple arrived back in the States settling in Philadelphia where it wasn’t long before Ella began volunteering at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In the late 1970s the estate of Francis P. Garvan, who along with his wife Mabel, were major collectors of decorative arts, began donating the couple’s vast collection of Delft tiles to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With Dutch being Ella’s native language along with her comprehensive knowledge of...
> Read More about Ella Schaap Honored Recipient of the Tile Heritage Award

Need research assistance?

The Tile Heritage Foundation serves both the industry and the public as no other agency can. The body of information on hand within the Tile Heritage Collection, coupled with industry partnerships and access to a network of experts worldwide, provides assurance of both helpful and accurate answers to research queries.

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