The Crescent Clay Craft Tile Company, later the Crescent Tile Company, founded in 1910, was responsible for manufacturing and contracting much of the tile found in the historic homes and public buildings dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, including the Vinoy Hotel. The tiles in the lobby floor came from the Flint Faience & Tile Company in Flint, Michigan.
In terms of quality and value, faience tile production always remained relatively small and insignificant in comparison to the greater building industry. But in artistic terms, faience tiles, with their limitless color possibilities, were peerless. Faience truly defined the prominence of American tiles during this "Golden Age."
Random field tile patterns and borders were composed of vitreous grès or glazed tiles with a wide variation of color if desired.
Variations of the fleur-de-lis were popular designs for insert tiles commonly seen in Flint Faience floor installations.
Howard Bland, the original Chief Engineer, and his wife, Anne, who later became the hotel operator, arrived from Maine as the lobby floor was being installed.