Columbus Landing in the New World

Canon 5D MkIII, EF17-40 f/4L @ 29mm, f/8.0, 1.3 sec, ISO 400

The images in this post are just an example of the many tile mosaic scenes installed in the Columbus Room Ceiling.  These isolated images only provide a glimpse of the elaborate ceiling decorations.  I am still figuring out how I can best create an image of the full ceiling.  I think I will need to lay on my back on the floor and do a panoramic sweep across the ceiling.  I also would like to know the “full story” behind the many different scenes.  I will need to do a lot of research, hopefully with the a member of Fonthill’s knowledgeable staff.

“The Sea of Darkness”

Related Images:

Canon 5D MkIII, EF17-40mm f/4L @ 17mm, f/11, ISO 400 (HDR)

Tiles on the ceiling, tiles on the floor, tiles on drawers, tiles on the fireplace, tiles on the window sills, tiles on the wall …. tiles, tiles everywhere!  There is just too much to take in when just passing through.  I could spend hours just photographing this room and still not capture what my eyes and mind see.  I have “shot” this room at least a dozen times and still have not been to capture the feeling I get when in the room.

The theme in this room is Columbus’ voyage and discovery of the New World.  In addition, Mercer dedicated this room to his Aunt Elizabeth Lawrence (EL).  During the next several posts I will attempt to cover Mercer’s work in the Columbus Room.

Related Images:

Canon 5D MkIII, EF17-40 f/4L @ 17mm, f/11, 0.8 sec, ISO 400 w/flash

Most people never see this “hidden” mosaic.  I have been past this mural dozens of times.  I would never have known it was there without a Fonthill staff member telling me about it.  It is located just outside the a door from the Yellow Room leading to a stairway to the Alcove.  The door is normally open covering the mural.  The normal flow of tour traffic is from the Yellow Room down the stairs.  It is also in a very dark corner.  I had to use supplemental flash bounced off the ceiling to capture the colors.

The tiles in the mural are very atypical.  They are considered as “Experimental Tiles”.  Similar tiles are nowhere to be found.  Below is a detail of the mural.

Related Images:

Bluebeard Mural

Canon 5D MkIII, EF17-40mm f/4L @ 17mm, f/8.0, 10 sec, ISO 400

Adjacent to the West Room is the Yellow Room.  It gets its name from the lavish Yellow Tiles decorating the ceiling and column capitals.  The image above is Mercer’s Bluebeard Mural.  It depicts a medieval story of a rich nobleman who married and killed several wives.  The forbidden chamber is where the bodies were kept.  See the image below.

Bluebeard Mural – “Forbidden Chamber”

Mercer had a somewhat twisted mind;  this bedroom was the guest room for lady visitors at Fonthill!

Below are the tiles that the Yellow Room got it’s name from.

Related Images:

West Room Fireplace – Pickwick Papers

Canon 5D MkIII, EF17-40mm f/4L @ 32mm, f/11, 2 sec, ISO 400

Moving along the hallway from the Map Room, one encounters this “story board” fireplace in the West Room.  One of Mercer’s most popular tile types were “story tiles” , a set of tiles which told a story or a sequence of events.  Many of these were sold to private individuals throughout the country.  This mural depicts Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers.  Below are a couple of the individual tiles.  It looks like I will need to read Dickens’ work so I can tell the story behind the tiles.

Note the small hole in the middle of the tiles,  These are nail holes used to hold the tiles in place as they were being set into the mortar.

Related Images:

Map Room Floor Tile Design

Canon 5D MkIII, EF24-70mm f2.8L @ 59mm, f/11, 2 sec, ISO 200

Watch where you step!  Your foot might obstruct interesting floor tile designs.  The stimulating Map Room floor is decorated with unique mortar and tile designs.  I do not know how many times I walked over these tiles without paying them much attention. Focusing on the various tiles throughout the castle has enabled me to see things I never noticed before.  They just seem to pop out wherever I look.  I look forward to returning and focusing on additional aspects within Fonthill.  Below is another example of a different design.

Related Images:

Map Room Hallway

Canon 5D MkIII, EF24-70mm f/2.8L @45mm, f/8.0, 0.3 sec, ISO 400

A narrow window lined hallway leads from the Study to the Map Room.  The window encasements are lined with various Mercer decoratory and architectural tiles  Different styles are installed in each of the window frames.  Below are a couple of individual tiles:

Related Images:

Study Ceiling Tiles

Canon 5D MkIII, EF24-70mm f/2.8L @ 30mm, f/11, 1.6 sec, ISO 200

Walking from the Dormer into the Study, I can feel the personality of Henry Mercer at work.  Four desks are installed/placed around the room.  Each one is positioned to capture the best light available for different times of the day.  Artwork, artifacts, and books grace the walls.  Tile mosaics adorn the ceiling,  The two shown in this post represent the several others placed around the Study Ceiling.

Related Images:

Dormer Sink Wall (Delft and Mercer Architectural Tiles)

Canon 5D MkIII, EF24-70mm f/2.8L @ 43mm, f/11, ISO 200 (HDR)

Completing one loop from the Center Hall, the tour walks past the Floral Brocades shown in a prior post to start another loop in the Dormer.  One wall in the Dormer is completely covered in tiles.  Antique Delft tiles are encased by Mercer’s Architectural tiles.  Two modern ceramic sculptures by Katia McGuirk are on temporary display.

Related Images: