THF receives numerous requests to identify tiles. We’ve pulled some examples from our recent files in order to share these masterpieces with you. If you have a tile that needs identification, we’d love to know. Please see our Research Services information to submit a request.
Calco Fireplace
From Iris Shih, archivist, Pasadena Museum of History to the Tile Heritage Foundation: Attached are photos of the Calco [California Clay Products Co.] fireplace from a 1926 home in Los Angeles! Let me know if you’d like the owner to contact you.
Response from the Tile Heritage Foundation (Joseph Taylor): We’d be delighted to feature this pristine Calco fireplace mantel in “E-News.” I’d need a picture of his house from the street, name of the architect if available, and a short paragraph from the owner with his personal feelings living with such a masterpiece. ’26 is when Rufus Keeler left for Malibu, which means that he and/or his staff would have been responsible for each and every Aztec interpretation. This is quite wonderful, indeed.
Owner (Dan): Recently, I sent pictures of my Batchelder fireplace that I now know is Calco (although I’m not sure there’s any signature on it). The previous owner of my house had sent me a book of Batchelder’s because he saw one with similar tiles, and we both agreed that he was probably the maker. Anyway, if you’re still interested in putting it in your newsletter, I would be open to it.
Joe: Dan, your Calco fireplace is pristine! We’d certainly like to feature your home. Can you send us a picture of your house from the road? We like to match up tile installations with architecture. We do not publish addresses. By the way, Rufus Keeler would be the person responsible for your Aztec design tiles. He was a founder of Calco in South Gate as well as the superintendent and glaze specialist at Malibu Potteries.
Dan: I sure appreciate your clarifying who created the tiles. From the street the front of my house is just a garage so it doesn’t have much curb appeal. The house sets down the hill.
In the master bathroom, in addition to the tiles, there are towel bars, a towel hook, built-in soap dishes, curtain rods, and a tooth-brush holder.
House Handcraft-ed in San Jose
From Owner (Lilian): My reason for reaching out to you is to try to ensure that the new owners (if we sell) understand – and, hopefully, appreciate – the history and merit of the tiles, as there has been talk about renovating the bathroom. Real estate records show that my home was built in 1930. In a 1931 phone book, I found that Frank M. Santana, who served on the city’s planning commission, lived here.
Kind regards, Lilian
San Jose, 1930.
Response from the Tile Heritage Foundation (Joseph Taylor): Lilian, you have Handcraft tile produced in Milpitas, California. I’ll send you a brief history of the company, which remains in business today but on a much smaller scale.
Mystery Solved in Portland
From Owner (Cara): Good morning! I am a homeowner in Portland, Oregon. I’m preparing to sell my home and learned from a realtor that the tiles in our fireplace are likely Batchelder tiles. I had long wondered who the artist was. Iris Shih at the Pasadena Museum of History has assured me they are not! I hope my photos will confirm their origin. We are told that our home was likely built in 1936.
The large center tile features a casita or villa in front of two mountains and surrounded by trees. There are geometric tiles on both sides of the fireplace, as well as geometric tiles in the niche.
We would love to learn more about this design (is this a common or rare tile, etc), any historical information available, and how/where we might learn of its value (beyond the obvious aesthetics).
Thank you, Cara
Response from the Tile Heritage Foundation (Joseph Taylor): Cara, greetings from Tile Heritage! Your fireplace tile surround was produced in Oakland, California by Charles Elsenius at Woolenius Tile Co. (1927-1941). The story of this man and his company can be found in California Tile: The Golden Era 1910-1940 published by Schiffer in 2003. Your fireplace is a beauty for sure. I had never seen the keystone tile before!
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