Introducing the Heirloom Collection
Perfectly Imperfect Tumbled Brick by US Brick
Have you ever pulled into the drive of a house that instantly felt like a home? Or found yourself staring at an old brick building wondering, why don’t new bricks look like this? Most will say it’s because:
“They Don’t Make’em Like they Used To.”
And in some ways, that sentiment is true….
Historically, brick was molded by hand, so no two pieces were ever alike. “Rich Character” and “Timeless Colors” weren’t intentional features. They were simply the natural outcome of an age-old process.
With modern manufacturing came more control and uniformity – practical improvements that serve many builds well. But there are certain projects that call for more. They call for the unmistakable appearance of reclaimed materials, without the compromises of age or fragility.
Respecting that need, we paired tried and true techniques with modern technology to reintroduce depth, character, and a human touch into the materials that shape our homes and communities. As such, the Heirloom Collection was born, proof that US Brick can still make ’em like they used to!
Exclusively tumbled, hand stacked and blended in Columbia, South Carolina, the Heirloom Collection brings back the warmth and charm of historic brick. Made to feel as if it has always been here, it gives a home or building the permanence that makes it worth passing down.
The Heirloom Collection by US Brick
Every beautiful thing has a story, and for this collection it begins with Derby Lane.
Derby Lane Brick
In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Salem, Massachusetts thrived as a seaport, and few families better represented this golden age than the Derbys. At the helm was Richard Derby, a prominent merchant who in 1762 commissioned a “little brick house” on Derby Street as a wedding gift for his son, Elias Hasket Derby, often described as America’s first millionaire.
Choosing brick over timber in Salem during this time was unusual and costly, yet it appealed to affluent families like the Derbys who wanted to showcase their prosperity with a new home built to withstand generations. Their choice proved wise, as the home remains preserved more than 260 years later as part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
Architecturally, the Derby House is a classic example of Georgian Colonial style. The bricks are believed to have been coated with an iron-oxide wash that deepened them into the inviting shades of red that inspired Derby Lane brick.
Saddle Run Brick
Saddle Run brick pays homage to the brick barn boom that emerged during Pennsylvania’s agricultural revolution in the 19th century. As farming evolved from a simple way of life into a business-driven enterprise, prosperous farmers began rebuilding their barns with brick to protect their investments and to showcase their prosperity.
These barns were intricately designed with masonry patterns like hourglasses, wheat sheaves, and diamonds, serving a practical role as ventilators and a symbolic one as visible markers of a farmer’s standing in the community.
Several historic brick barns can still be found today, serving as lasting reminders of the prosperity and craftsmanship of a bygone era. Saddle Run captures the beloved patina people have admired for generations, with its natural imperfections and understated shades of brown, cobble and slate.
Ivy House Brick
Ivy House draws inspiration from the limewashed brick cottages and buildings that defined colonial towns like Williamsburg and Richmond, Virginia, in the 18th and 19th centuries. Back then, limewashing was a practical solution to protect porous, handmade brick rather than an intentional design choice.
Over time, that chalky, softened finish became a defining characteristic of early American architecture that remains admired for its weathered appearance today. Ivy House brick is celebrated for its permanent antique white finish with shades of its natural brown body and earthy undertones subtly peeking through.
