Good News for Tile-o-Files
Tiles shaped much of Southern California’s architecture and design through the early part of the 20th century. Along with the Panama-California Exposition’s design influence (1915-1917), home decorating magazines, real estate developers and furniture manufacturers made Spanish, Mexican and Moorish themes the most popular style for California homeowners at that time.According to the Save Our Heritage Organisation:
“Considered functional as well as aesthetically pleasing, tiles were used extensively to clad benches, form fountain spouts and basins, and as stair risers both indoors and out.”
On Saturday (March 15, San Diego’s Historic Tile Tour will visit private homes to view their tile features, as well as public sites, some well known, others not as well known.
Tour Guides for this event will include Joseph Taylor and Sheila Menzies. A frequent writer and lecturer on tile history, Joseph Taylor is president and cofounder of the Tile Heritage Foundation. A craftswoman and mixed media artist, Sheila Menzies is a board member and cofounder of the Tile Heritage Foundation.
Note: There is also a Historic Tile of Southern California lecture at 11am on Saturday. This is separate from the tour and priced separately.
For more information about San Diego’s historic tiles, see:
The History of the California China Products Company of National City, California, 1911-1917 from The Journal of San Diego History
The Persian Water Rug Fountain: Balboa Park’s Lost Treasure from The Journal of San Diego History
History of the California Building in Balboa Park
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