Borough Hall Faience

The tile work in the Borough Hall station is a  celebration of the subway's arrival into Brooklyn (January 9th, 1908) just 10 years after Brooklyn joined New York City.   Grand, bas relief wreaths set into deep mosiac freize frame the BH monogram.  Above the monogram a green egg and dart moulding caps the wall. The large intricate name panels hang like tapestries and are almost identical to the ones found in Times Square.

The medallions themselves were produced by Grueby Pottery out of South Boston.  Grueby is the most collectible and desirable of American potteries, and for that reason difficult to find, with the exception of the NYC subway stations Astor Place, Bleeker Street, 28th Street, Columbus Circle, and many of the stations along the Lexington Ave Line.  One can also find Grueby tiles on the crossing floor at the Catherdral of St John the Devine on Amsterdam Ave, installed around 1910.

Grueby first introduced his matte green glaze in 1897 which quickly became a symbol of the Arts and Crafts movement and garnered world wide acclaim.  It was sold throughout the United States and Europe by Gustav Stickley, Tiffany & Co., and Marshall Fields.  Today it still remains the most sought after pottery from the Arts and Crafts period.