Glazed terra cotta was extremely popular in the first half of the 20th Century.  Clay could be inexpensively molded to complicated shapes and could be glazed to give it a stone-like appearance.  Gladden McBean was a local manufacturer of glazed terra cotta and continues to make ceramic products in Northern California to this day.  I try and keep Gladding McBean in mind because they are local and ceramic tile is pretty sustainable -- earning possible LEED points.

Built in 1937, this building at 9th and Harrison in San Francisco was a Gladding McBean office  building -- just a block from our office.  It is completely clad in glazed terra cotta and is now the home of the Salvation Army.  I once thought glazed terra cotta was great, but if it was chipped it was gone for good.  I had noticed the nicks and chips on the building, but last a few months ago I noticed someone was repairing the damaged terra cotta.  He said it was no problem repairing it.  You fill in the voids and then they can "re-glaze" it in place.  The restoration was completed by Lewis Restoration and Consulting of San Francisco.  Now it looks good to go for another 70 years.