Espersen & Son has close ties to the Dutch Caribbean, especially the islands of Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten. Throughout the colonial period, bricks were often used as ballast in Dutch trading vessels en route to their Caribbean colonies during the 17th and 18th centuries. These bricks were often "Ijsselsteen", a type of tan coloured brick with natural red stone inclusions made with clay from the Ijssel River. The edges of the brick are polished with a diamond saw to bring out a red marbling in the bricks. Espersen & Son salvages these from demolitions and from archaeological excavations of sugar plantations where it is impossible for local organizations to store thousands of bricks from archaeological sites.
These pieces are only available through a consultation and special order.
These pieces are only available through a consultation and special order.