Eustis Estate

John Gardner Low’s Natural Tiles

Close up of green ceramic tile with imprint of flower and geometric shapes.

John Gardner Low’s Natural Tiles

The tiles on the dining room fireplace were produced by the J. & J.G. Low Art Tile Company, based in Chelsea, Massachusetts. The patent for these tiles, granted to John Gardner Low in 1879, outlines the details of his “Natural Tile” process. The tiles in the Eustises’ dining room may well have been among the first of this type purchased from the company.

Patent with black and white drawings of white square with black clover labeled Fig. 1 and black square with white clover labeled Fig. 2. Text reads: J.G. Low Manufacturer of Decorative Tile, No. 212478, Patented Feb 18, 1879.