User:Slim cop/William Butler Simpson

William Butler Simpson was a British artist, designer, and tile manufacturer, best known for his art tile decorations of the 1870s and 1880s.

As well as being commissioned by William Burges for work at Cardiff Castle, their hand-painted tiles may also be found at St Asaph Cathedral. (http://imagingthebible.llgc.org.uk/person/428)

The firm at various times had important decorative contracts for the gentry and livery companies. They are noted as making printed pattern tiles, "decorative faience on architectural lines" and "coloured enamel tiles". They helped pioneer fireplace tiles. As decorators they used Maw’s biscuit tiles. They also made mosaics (tesserae) and ecclesiastical "opus sectile" tiles. Their painted tiles and panels were used for theatres, baths, restaurants, museums etc. In the 1890s the company’s plain tile business increased considerably. A large underground railway contract included tiling for Hampstead & Highgate Rlwy, Piccadilly & Brompton Rlwy, and Bakerloo. [Bibliographical addition] Some W.B. Simpson tiles and their backs are discussed by Richard Myers, in "W.B. Simpson & Sons", GE, no. 5 (Summer 1983) p.3.