Malibu Tiles

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, and which feature 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. This carefully curated selection from the Pepperdine Libraries' collection of Malibu tiles is an important addition to Pepperdine Libraries' Digital Collections.