Inspiring Icons/ Edith Heath

Left: As a younger woman, Edith Heath, Right: A collection of Heath Ceramics in the studio

Silhouettes of Heath Ceramics, Including Salt & Pepper, Vinegar Bottle, Vases, Plates and Pouring Dish

Ceramic tiles produced by Heath Ceramics, Including their House Numbers and Inside their showroom

Left/ Right: Ones of Heath's Outlet's Signage and Showroom, Right: Photography: Corey Walter

More examples of Heath Tiles

More Silhouettes including their mugs, espresso cup and saucer, a vase, teapot, plate and children's set 

Left: Vintage Heath Casserole dishes, Right: In the studio, Including bowls, pitchers and bowls

Left: Heath Pitcher, Right: Edith Heath in the Studio

Left: Atwater Pottery for Heath, A collaboration currently in store only, Right: this season's multi stemmed vase

This seasons Desert bowl in Seasonal colors, Right: Espresso cups and saucers in yellow

Row's of Heath product In store

Heath Ceramics was a company I discovered when I moved to the U.S.A several years ago. It was actually their website I discovered first, purchasing a lot of props for The Real Simple prop cupboard which I managed as part of my job as Style Director. I loved the simplicity of their lines and their chalky matt colors that changed out seasonally. Always a fan of twin tone, the interesting use of contrasting color in say an interior of a bowl captivated me with quirky and unexpected combinations.

Heath Ceramics was founded by Edith Heath (1911-2005) who has had a lasting influence on Californian design through pottery. An Iowa farm girl, raised during the Depression and trained as a teacher, Heath worked as a studio potter in San Francisco until 1947, when a growing demand for her pieces inspired her to establish her own line of products and Heath Ceramics was born in 1948. Her parents were Danish and I think you can see this cultural influence in her work.

Edith was influenced by the art and architecture of the Bauhaus movement, pursuing simple, functional forms, and she collaborated with many of the leading architects and designers of the mid-century modern genre. Edith sadly died in 2005, aged 94, but her studio and pottery line still exist. In 2003, husband-and-wife team Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey, both ceramic artists themselves, purchased Heath Ceramics in Sausalito, where every product is still made in 2003.

The company has evolved to be ever current and their company identity and branding is always on trend, working in collaboration with other companies and designers to bring ever-revolving collections. Vintage Heath can also be admired and purchased in sections of their stores. On the West Coast, Heath defiantly has a presence and they have a number of stores and outlets that carry the full range and the seasonal offerings as mentioned.  

I love the story of Heath Ceramics and that today they are still going strong, I can’t wait to visit all their locations, I am currently in the West Coast so it strikes even more so a chord, Hope it does you too. 

Many pictures here can be found from Heath Ceramics website, check it out.