The Ceramic Tiles of This Craftsman Era Maker Are Still Some of the Most Coveted in California
Have you experienced a Batchelder fireplace?
-
CategoryArtisans, Design, Homes + Spaces, Makers + Entrepreneurs, Vintage
With his subtle earth tones and beautiful patters, the tile work of Ernest Batchelder is still widely admired more than 50 years after his death. Originally from New Hampshire, the tile maker moved to California in 1901 and eventually opened a factory in Lincoln Heights. According the LA Curbed, between teaching art classes at Cal Tech and traveling the globe, Batchelder devoted his time to creating exquisite ceramic tile, primarily for fireplaces, but also bathrooms, swimming pools, office lobbies and public fountains.
“As Pasadena architects Charles and Henry Greene were producing innovative home designs that defined California’s signature Craftsman style, Batchelder was close by, making tiles in a backyard studio. Today, many of those tiles are collector’s items, and mantels and fireplace surrounds bearing Batchelder tiles lend historical prestige to otherwise unremarkable prewar homes.
“‘He definitely commands name-brand recognition,’ says former Pasadena Museum of History director of collections Laura Verlaque, who curated a 2016 exhibit on Batchelder’s tiles. ‘There were so many other competitors who made wonderful tiles, but Batchelder is the one who everyone seems to know.’”
You can read more about this early California craftsman and his process here.
Heading to a Monterey Racetrack to Test Out High Performance Vehicles
During what many car enthusiasts call the glory days of Formula One motor racing, I worked alongside the sport’s British mastermind, Bernie Ecclestone, for numerous years while teams globetrotted across time zones and oceans vying for coveted championship points. The late legendary Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna and other notable competitors of that era […]
Love for the Desert Date Shake Is No Longer Just a California Secret
When a prominent epicurean magazine picks up a story about Coachella Valley’s famous date shakes, you know you’ve made it.
Southern Charm: Is the Future of Tech in Silicon Beach?
With companies like Snapchat, Hulu and Tinder based in SoCal, emerging tech companies look to Los Angeles for a talent pool of creativity and innovation.
