Rising costs for getting the look of the past

Some homeowners need to replace a single fireplace tile. Others may want an entire walkway made of old bricks. Both help to explain the growing market for vintage architectural elements. What’s hot today? Bruce Baker, owner of Silverlake Architectural Salvage, cites claw-foot tubs from 1890 to 1930 ($100 to $3,000), one- and five-panel mahogany and oak doors ($50 to $200) and crystal doorknobs ($25 to $100). A look at prices for other popular materials:

Jose Vera, owner of Jose Vera Fine Art & Antiques in Eagle Rock, says prices for common field tiles have remained relatively flat, but complete murals and other sets have appreciated about 20% in the last five years. A plain Batchelder tile may sell for $30, whereas an elaborate, 3 1/2 -foot-long Batchelder centerpiece can cost $3,500. His 156-tile, blue-and-orange mural by Hispano-Moresque is $15,000; a 1920 Mayan-themed set of 38 Calco tiles is also $15,000.

Vintage brick

in Santa Monica acquired 200,000 sand-molded bricks from a 1930s Riverside church. Paint remnants, nonuniform edges and the dated stamp of the Simons Brick Corp. of Corona make it Bourget Bros.’ most expensive brick – $1.08 apiece, compared with 51 cents for a new machine-made brick.

Roof tiles

Imported century-old Roman beige roof tiles cost $3.50 each at Farnese House Design in San Francisco. The price has doubled in three years because of limited supply, increased demand and the weakened dollar.

– Janet Eastman