NY_BROOKLYN--Litchfield Villa Floor

LITCHFIELD VILLA FLOOR--BROOKLYN, NY

Title of Installation:

Litchfield Villa Reception Area Floor

Materials Used:

Ceramic Tiles

Additional Materials Information:

General Description:

The entire floor of the first floor reception area is covered with patterned 6" square, 6" diameter, 3", and 6" x 3" polychromed encaustic tiles.

"In 1857, Litchfield Villa...was built in the Italianate style, and the floor was tiled with Minton tiles chosen

from the design books available in New York. These are identical to some of the floors in the U.S.

Capitol. Similar tiles can also be found at the Crocker Art Gallery in Sacramento..., various private houses,

and in the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Never before had tiles with such ornate colorings been

used to such an extent [in the U.S.]." (David Malkin in "A Little News: From the Friends of Central, Prospect,

Cadwalader, Fort Greene, Druid Hill and Branch Brook Parks, Summer 2001 Edition)

Technical Information (Size, mfg., Year Created,etc.):

The original encaustic tiles were manufactured by Mintons in England, c. 1857.

Year Created:

c. 1857

Year Installed, if different:

c. 1857; restored in 2007 by David Malkin of Tile Source, Inc.

Does Installation Still Exist?

Yes

If Not, What Happened?

State: NY

City: Brooklyn

Specific Location:

Prospect Park West at 5th Street

GPS Coordinates:

Directions to Installation:

Take the "F" subway to the 7th Avenue station (at 9th Street) in Brooklyn. Walk to Prospect Park West on 9th Street and make a left turn on Prospect Park West.

Additional Information (Websites, Citations, etc.):

In 2007 a grant from Edwin Litchfield’s descendants allowed the Prospect Park Alliance to undertake a restoration of the main entry parlor and the skylit rotunda. Reproduction floor tiles were specially manufactured in England where the original Minton tiles were produced. http://www.prospectpark.org/history_nature/historic_places/h_villa

Submitted by:

Michael Padwee (tileback101"at"collector.org) in September 2010.

Photos courtesy of Michael Padwee