Batchelder Tiles Are the 'Cat’s Meow'

His name was Ernest Batchelder, and his legacy of hand-made, decorative art tiles lives on in homes and buildings across the United States. 

This leader in the American Arts and Crafts movement formed his own tile company in 1909 in nearby Pasadena, making tiles in a backyard kiln behind his bungalow (now known as the Batchelder House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and home to retired Occidental College professor Robert Winter, author of Batchelder Tilemaker, 1999). When demand exceeded his capacity to manufacture, he moved his operation twice to accommodate the interest, with his largest site being located on six acres in Los Angeles.

Batchelder designed most of the tiles himself, especially at the beginning. Relief tiles were done mostly in brown in the early years, and his favorite figures revolved around geometric designs, birds, foliage and Mayan motifs. While tiles were made for many purposes (fountains, baths and pavements), the Batchelder name is primarily associated with fireplaces. As stated in vintage literature by the Batchelder-Wilson Company: 

“Certainly the quiet, unobtrusive way in which a Batchelder mantel harmonizes with its surroundings is unique … no clashing of color, no vivid ‘spots’, only soft, delicate tone that blend into the ensemble.”

Like many businesses of the time, especially those devoted to the Arts and Crafts lifestyle, Batchelder’s operation fell victim to the Depression and was forced to close in 1932. However, he continued to make pottery until the early 1950s. While Batchelder tiles can still be found, they are rare and command high prices, easily exceeding $100 for a 4-inch square tile. 

Time has not diminished the value that the public places on these hand-crafted works of art, and today homeowners have rediscovered the charm of owning a Batchelder fireplace. Real estate agents are quick to recognize the value the buying public places on a home with one of these fireplace gems.

If you do not own a home with a Batchelder fireplace or do not know anyone who has such a fireplace, it is still possible to find examples of Batchelder’s work. He was the third Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pasadena Playhouse (which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places), and he built an original tile fireplace and fountain that was recently restored. The fountain can be seen in the patio near the entrance to the playhouse.

A must-see building with one of the largest troves of Batchelder tiles is Finney’s Cafeteria (The Chocolate Shop), located at 217 West Sixth Street in downtown Los Angeles. Tiles cover the walls, ceiling, and floor and several murals are included in this array. Today the building houses vendor stalls selling an assortment of goods.

Monrovia has more than its share of these desirable fireplaces and other tile arrangements that have survived in Craftsman and Spanish Colonial Revival homes throughout the city. Dozens of homes from the modest to the more elaborate contain examples of Batchelder work. Two notable cases are the Upton Sinclair house on Myrtle Avenue, a 1923 Spanish Colonial Revival in which both bathrooms are laid in Batchelder tile, and the Arthur J. Earnest 1909 Craftsman home on Highland Place, in which two of the three fireplaces are Batchelder.

A special thanks to the owners of the Cramlet House, Frank and Tammy Guarino, for providing pictures of the Batchelder fireplace that graces their living room.