Heath Ceramics
Encyclopedia
Heath Ceramics is a manufacturer of artisan pottery
including tableware
, bowls, tile, mugs and vases in California
. Heath Ceramics was founded in 1948 by Edith Heath
(1911-2005) in Sausalito, California after her work was stocked by the Gump's
store in San Francisco. The company currently has a production factory and store in Sausalito, California
, and a ceramic
s studio and store in Los Angeles, California
.
Heath Ceramics is owned by Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey, and is known for its distinctive glazes and handcrafted stoneware. Bailey, who purchased the company in 2004, described Heath's wares as maintaining a tradition of utility and beauty that is "true to the materials." Innovative Alice Waters
, founder and chef of the renowned Chez Panisse
in Berkeley, California
, uses dinnerware produced by Heath Ceramics in the restaurant.
Heath Ceramics has begun collaborating with other artists and designers. Heath has partnered with potter
Adam Silverman
to direct its on-site studio in Los Angeles. The designer Christina Kim
collaborated with Heath Ceramics in a project "to translate the ethereal spirit of her 'Phases of the Moon' fashion collection into ceramics." in 2005 The Los Angeles Heath store carries the company's dinnerware, serving pieces, and vases
, as well as original pieces in ceramic and other media including hand-blown glass and textiles. The store also hosts shows by other ceramic
artists. The store hosted a community event, in 2009, with Charles Phoenix, the retro-historian vintage slide collector, and local history entertainer.
Heath Ceramics has taken measures to minimize its environmental impact during production including firing its clay
at lower temperatures, reusing clay scraps, and recycling water, and in transportation by using paper instead of styrofoam
as the packing material
.
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
including tableware
Tableware
Tableware is the dishes or dishware , dinnerware , or china used for setting a table, serving food, and for dining. Tableware can be meant to include flatware and glassware...
, bowls, tile, mugs and vases in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Heath Ceramics was founded in 1948 by Edith Heath
Edith Heath
Edith Kiertzner Heath was a American studio potter "but soon became involved in the design and production of pottery and tableware on a far larger scale than that of most studio potters." In 1948, Edith founded Heath Ceramics...
(1911-2005) in Sausalito, California after her work was stocked by the Gump's
Gump's
Gump’s is a luxury American home furnishings and home décor retailer. Gump’s was founded in 1861 in San Francisco, California.- History :S & G Gump was founded in 1861 as a mirror and frame shop by Solomon Gump and his brother, Gustav...
store in San Francisco. The company currently has a production factory and store in Sausalito, California
Sausalito, California
Sausalito is a San Francisco Bay Area city, in Marin County, California, United States. Sausalito is south-southeast of San Rafael, at an elevation of 13 feet . The population was 7,061 as of the 2010 census. The community is situated near the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, and prior to...
, and a ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s studio and store in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Heath Ceramics is owned by Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey, and is known for its distinctive glazes and handcrafted stoneware. Bailey, who purchased the company in 2004, described Heath's wares as maintaining a tradition of utility and beauty that is "true to the materials." Innovative Alice Waters
Alice Waters
Alice Louise Waters is an American chef, restaurateur, activist, and author. She is the owner of Chez Panisse, a Berkeley, California restaurant famous for its organic, locally-grown ingredients and for pioneering California cuisine.Waters opened the restaurant in 1971. It has consistently ranked...
, founder and chef of the renowned Chez Panisse
Chez Panisse
Chez Panisse is a Berkeley, California restaurant known for using local, organic foods and credited as the inspiration for the style of cooking known as California cuisine. Well-known restauranteur, author, and food activist Alice Waters co-founded Chez Panisse in 1971 with film producer Paul...
in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, uses dinnerware produced by Heath Ceramics in the restaurant.
Heath Ceramics has begun collaborating with other artists and designers. Heath has partnered with potter
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
Adam Silverman
Adam Silverman
Adam Benjamin Silverman is a composer of contemporary classical music. His works include the opera Korczak's Orphans , chamber and orchestral music, and music for the theater...
to direct its on-site studio in Los Angeles. The designer Christina Kim
Christina Kim
Christina Kim is an American professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour and on the Ladies European Tour . From San Jose, California, she is known for her animated style of play, flamboyant dress, and outgoing personaliity.Not long after her 18th birthday, Kim turned pro...
collaborated with Heath Ceramics in a project "to translate the ethereal spirit of her 'Phases of the Moon' fashion collection into ceramics." in 2005 The Los Angeles Heath store carries the company's dinnerware, serving pieces, and vases
Vase
The vase is an open container, often used to hold cut flowers. It can be made from a number of materials including ceramics and glass. The vase is often decorated and thus used to extend the beauty of its contents....
, as well as original pieces in ceramic and other media including hand-blown glass and textiles. The store also hosts shows by other ceramic
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
artists. The store hosted a community event, in 2009, with Charles Phoenix, the retro-historian vintage slide collector, and local history entertainer.
Heath Ceramics has taken measures to minimize its environmental impact during production including firing its clay
Fire clay
Fire clay is a term applied to a range of refractory clays used in the manufacture of ceramics, especially fire brick.High grade fire clays can withstand temperatures of 1775°C , but to be referred to as a "fire clay" the material must withstand a minimum temperature of 1515°C...
at lower temperatures, reusing clay scraps, and recycling water, and in transportation by using paper instead of styrofoam
Styrofoam
Styrofoam is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company for closed-cell currently made for thermal insulation and craft applications. In 1941, researchers in Dow's Chemical Physics Lab found a way to make foamed polystyrene...
as the packing material
Waste
Waste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
.