Solon and Schemmel Tile Company: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Former tile pottery business in San Jose, California}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Solon and Schemmel Tile Company''' ('''S&S''') was a [[tile]] pottery business in [[San Jose, California]] from 1920 – 1936. The company's tiles adorn [[Steinhart Aquarium]] in San Francisco and the [[Hearst Castle]] in [[San Simeon, California]]. Other projects included tiles for the Orpheum and Junior Orpheum theaters in Los Angeles, the [[Mark Hopkins Hotel]], Central Classroom Building at [[San Jose State University]], Y.M.C.A. buildings in San Diego and Honolulu, the [[Dollar Steamship Line]] building at Portland, Oregon, the Oakland and Berkeley war memorials.<ref name=town/><ref name=stone/> and the [[Frank P. Williams House]] in [[Sacramento]] |
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[[File:Backesto Park Fountain (6230173637).jpg|thumb| The oldest dated S&S tile installation (1922). [[Backesto Park]] Fountain in San Jose, California.]] |
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| ⚫ | '''Solon and Schemmel Tile Company''' ('''S&S''') was a [[tile]] pottery business in [[San Jose, California]] from 1920 – 1936. The company's tiles adorn [[Steinhart Aquarium]] in San Francisco and the [[Hearst Castle]] in [[San Simeon, California]]. Other projects included tiles for the Orpheum and Junior Orpheum theaters in Los Angeles, the [[Mark Hopkins Hotel]], Central Classroom Building at [[San Jose State University]], Y.M.C.A. buildings in San Diego and Honolulu, the [[Dollar Steamship Line]] building at Portland, Oregon, the Oakland and Berkeley war memorials.<ref name=town/><ref name=stone/> and the [[Frank P. Williams House]] in [[Sacramento]].<ref>http://www.sacramentoheritage.org/files/st.f_tour_front.pdf Sacramento Heritage</ref> |
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Their tiles were used by [[Helen Bell Bruton]] and her sister [[Margaret Bruton]] to create the Fleishhacker Zoo (currently [[San Francisco Zoo]]) Mother’s House mosaics. <ref name=Bruton1964>{{cite web |url=https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-helen-and-margaret-bruton-11725 |title=Oral history interview with Helen and Margaret Bruton, 1964 December 4 (An interview of Helen and Margaret Bruton conducted by Lewis Ferbraché on 1964 December 4 for the Archives of American art New Deal and the Arts Project.)|accessdate=October 21, 2023}} </ref> |
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The business was eventually subsumed into ''Stonelight Tile'' and is one of the only major California tile manufacturers from the 1920s to have survived to the present.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stonelight Tile|url=http://stonelighttile.com/about-us/}}</ref><ref name=town/> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:SJSU (3432792709).jpg|thumb|Tile work on the Central Classroom building at Albert Solon's Alma Mater, [[San Jose State University]]]] |
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Albert Solon (1887-1949) immigrated from England to the U.S. in 1912. He studied at [[San Jose Normal School]] (later San Jose State University). He was employed as the pottery director at |
Albert Solon (1887-1949) immigrated from England to the U.S. in 1912. He studied at [[San Jose Normal School]] (later San Jose State University). He was employed as the pottery director at [[Arequipa Pottery|Arequipa Sanatorium]] in [[Fairfax, California|Fairfax]], a ceramic therapy program for tuberculosis patients, before moving to San Jose and teaching ceramics at the San Jose Normal School.<ref>{{cite web|title=Guide to the Camille Solon Drawings Collection, 1900-1952|url=http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=lib_spc}}</ref><ref name=town>{{cite web |url=http://mytown.mercurynews.com/archives/wgresident/09.11.96/legacies.html |title=Legacies |accessdate=2013-07-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130710025657/http://mytown.mercurynews.com/archives/wgresident/09.11.96/legacies.html |archivedate=2013-07-10 }} September 11, 1996 Willow Glenn Resident</ref> |
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In 1920, he joined with Schemmel to found S&S tiles<ref name= |
In 1920, he joined with Schemmel to found S&S tiles<ref name=town/><ref name=stone/> Solon designed the tiles and Schemmel headed the business. Both men lived in Willow Glen during the 1930s and 40s. Their work for Willow Glen sites included Willow Glen Theater (demolished)) and the façades of homes on Telfer Avenue, Kotenberg Avenue and Willow Glen Way.<ref name=town/> |
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Schemmel retired in 1936 and Solon joined up with Paul Larkin. They changed the company name to '''Solon & Larkin''' and worked together until Solon retired in 1947.<ref name=town/><ref name=stone/> Schemmel died in 1950. Four friends from UC-Berkeley took over the company in 1953 and changed the name from the Larkin Tile Company to Stonelight Tile. They owned the company until 1979.<ref name=town/> It was bought by David Anson.<ref name=stone/> |
Schemmel retired in 1936 and Solon joined up with Paul Larkin. They changed the company name to '''Solon & Larkin''' and worked together until Solon retired in 1947.<ref name=town/><ref name=stone/> Schemmel died in 1950. Four friends from UC-Berkeley took over the company in 1953 and changed the name from the Larkin Tile Company to '''Stonelight Tile'''. They owned the company until 1979.<ref name=town/> It was bought by David Anson.<ref name=stone/> |
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==Solon's family== |
==Solon's family== |
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Albert Solon came from a family with a long history in ceramics. |
Albert Solon came from a family with a long history in ceramics. He was the grandson of Léon Arnoux, art director of [[Mintons]] Limited, and son of [[Marc-Louis-Emmanuel Solon]], a French porcelain artist who became well known for his [[pâte-sur-pâte]] technique during his tenure at [[Mintons]] in [[Stoke-on-Trent]], England. Albert's eldest brother, [[Leon Solon]] (1872-1957), worked as artistic director and designer at the [[American Encaustic Tiling Company]] in New York from 1912 to 1925, where Paul Solon (1883-?) also worked. [[Camille Solon|Camille A. Solon]] (1877-1960), a muralist and ceramist, worked with architect [[Julia Morgan]] doing painting and tile work for the private libraries and indoor pools of [[William Randolph Hearst|William Randolph Hearst's]] mansions and estates in [[San Simeon]]. Gilbert Solon (1879-1929) worked at the [[Royal Worcester|Royal Worcester Porcelain Co. Ltd.]] in [[Worcester, England]].<ref name=stone>[http://www.stonelighttile.com/about.html Stonelight Tile website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118021923/http://www.stonelighttile.com/about.html |date=2012-01-18 }}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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*[books.google.com/books?isbn=1579902715 |
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*[Solon & Schemmel: Manufacturers of "S. & S." Wall & Floor Tile] S. & S. Tile Company |
*[Solon & Schemmel: Manufacturers of "S. & S." Wall & Floor Tile] S. & S. Tile Company |
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==External links== |
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*{{official|https://stonelighttile.com}} |
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[[Category:1920 establishments in California]] |
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[[Category:1936 disestablishments in California]] |
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[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in San Jose, California]] |
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[[Category:Defunct companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area]] |
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[[Category:Ceramics manufacturers of the United States]] |
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[[Category:Solon family]] |
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[[Category:History of San Jose, California]] |
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Latest revision as of 18:42, 9 October 2024
.jpg)
Solon and Schemmel Tile Company (S&S) was a tile pottery business in San Jose, California from 1920 – 1936. The company's tiles adorn Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco and the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. Other projects included tiles for the Orpheum and Junior Orpheum theaters in Los Angeles, the Mark Hopkins Hotel, Central Classroom Building at San Jose State University, Y.M.C.A. buildings in San Diego and Honolulu, the Dollar Steamship Line building at Portland, Oregon, the Oakland and Berkeley war memorials.[1][2] and the Frank P. Williams House in Sacramento.[3] Their tiles were used by Helen Bell Bruton and her sister Margaret Bruton to create the Fleishhacker Zoo (currently San Francisco Zoo) Mother’s House mosaics. [4] The business was eventually subsumed into Stonelight Tile and is one of the only major California tile manufacturers from the 1920s to have survived to the present.[5][1]
History
[edit].jpg)
Albert Solon (1887-1949) immigrated from England to the U.S. in 1912. He studied at San Jose Normal School (later San Jose State University). He was employed as the pottery director at Arequipa Sanatorium in Fairfax, a ceramic therapy program for tuberculosis patients, before moving to San Jose and teaching ceramics at the San Jose Normal School.[6][1]
In 1920, he joined with Schemmel to found S&S tiles[1][2] Solon designed the tiles and Schemmel headed the business. Both men lived in Willow Glen during the 1930s and 40s. Their work for Willow Glen sites included Willow Glen Theater (demolished)) and the façades of homes on Telfer Avenue, Kotenberg Avenue and Willow Glen Way.[1]
Schemmel retired in 1936 and Solon joined up with Paul Larkin. They changed the company name to Solon & Larkin and worked together until Solon retired in 1947.[1][2] Schemmel died in 1950. Four friends from UC-Berkeley took over the company in 1953 and changed the name from the Larkin Tile Company to Stonelight Tile. They owned the company until 1979.[1] It was bought by David Anson.[2]
Solon's family
[edit]Albert Solon came from a family with a long history in ceramics. He was the grandson of Léon Arnoux, art director of Mintons Limited, and son of Marc-Louis-Emmanuel Solon, a French porcelain artist who became well known for his pâte-sur-pâte technique during his tenure at Mintons in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Albert's eldest brother, Leon Solon (1872-1957), worked as artistic director and designer at the American Encaustic Tiling Company in New York from 1912 to 1925, where Paul Solon (1883-?) also worked. Camille A. Solon (1877-1960), a muralist and ceramist, worked with architect Julia Morgan doing painting and tile work for the private libraries and indoor pools of William Randolph Hearst's mansions and estates in San Simeon. Gilbert Solon (1879-1929) worked at the Royal Worcester Porcelain Co. Ltd. in Worcester, England.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Legacies". Archived from the original on 2013-07-10. Retrieved 2013-07-09. September 11, 1996 Willow Glenn Resident
- ^ a b c d e Stonelight Tile website Archived 2012-01-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ http://www.sacramentoheritage.org/files/st.f_tour_front.pdf Sacramento Heritage
- ^ "Oral history interview with Helen and Margaret Bruton, 1964 December 4 (An interview of Helen and Margaret Bruton conducted by Lewis Ferbraché on 1964 December 4 for the Archives of American art New Deal and the Arts Project.)". Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "Stonelight Tile".
- ^ "Guide to the Camille Solon Drawings Collection, 1900-1952".
Further reading
[edit]- Handmade Tiles: Designing, Making, Decorating page 18 Frank Giorgini - 2001 -
- [Solon & Schemmel: Manufacturers of "S. & S." Wall & Floor Tile] S. & S. Tile Company