Collection Guide
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Malibu Tiles Collection
0141
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: Malibu Tiles Collection
Identifier/Call Number: 0141
Physical Description:
2.4 Linear Feet
Two cartons.
Date: 1926-1932
Abstract: The Malibu Tiles Collection contains tiles from Malibu Potteries, a historic Malibu ceramic company which operated in the
early 20th century. Malibu Potteries, owned by May Knight Rindge, produced tiles and ceramic pieces heavily inspired by Moorish,
Mayan, Spanish, and Saracen cultures, featuring Art Deco influences. Despite their brief production run, they played an influential
role in local architecture, and can still be viewed in various public locations throughout Malibu and greater Los Angeles.
This collection contains a portion of the original tiles produced.
Container: 1
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The Malibu Tile Collection contains twenty-five tiles, most produced by the locally operated Malibu Potteries (1926-1932).
The tiles are various shapes and sizes, and many of the designs are inspired by Saracen, Moorish, Spanish, and Mayan cultures.
The collection is organized by XXXX.
Known as "The Queen of Malibu," May Knight Rindge - the last owner of Rancho Malibu - opened Malibu Potteries in 1926 after
discovering rich deposits of red clay on her property. This discovery coincided with a burgeoning demand for decorative tiles
fueled by the 1920s Los Angeles housing boom and the popularity of both Art Deco and Spanish Revival architecture. Rindge
hired Rufus Keeler, a local ceramic engineer, to construct and operate the plant, and to formulate the proprietary glazes
used on the tiles. After suffering catastrophic damage from a 1931 fire, the factory briefly resumed production on a limited
basis, but was permanently closed in 1932 due to the economic pressures of the Great Depression.
Malibu Potteries produced tiles and ceramic pieces heavily inspired by Moorish, Mayan, Spanish, and Saracen cultures, featuring
Art Deco influences. Despite their brief production run, they played an influential role in local architecture, and can still
be viewed in various public locations throughout Malibu and greater Los Angeles. Notably, Los Angeles City Hall has a sizable
installation, as does the Serra Retreat - formerly May Rindge's Malibu Home. However, the most significant remaining installation
of Malibu Tiles can be seen at the Adamson House in Malibu. Built at the heyday of Malibu Potteries in 1929, the Adamson house
was the dream home of May Rindge's daughter Rhoda and her husband Merritt Adamson.
In addition to their foundational role in the history of Malibu, the Adamson-Rindge family contributed significantly to the
history of Pepperdine, donating a large portion of the land on which the Malibu campus was founded.
[Box/folder# or item name], [Name of collection], Collection no.[], [Sub repository], Special Collections and University Archives,
Univesrity Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Malibu (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century
Ceramic tiles
Art deco
Rindge, May, 1864-1941
Adamson House (Malibu, Calif.)