There's no place like Heath

May 4, 9:12 AMSF Interior Decorating ExaminerLuanne Bradley

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Heath tiles as backsplash in Weiss's kitchen design

Heath Ceramics in Sausalito is still holding up to the test of time and sustainability with the mid-century ceramics enjoying a design revival in the  contemporary home from dishes for tabletop to tiles for kitchen surfaces.

San Francisco designers, like Jennifer Weiss, are drawn to the minimal and modern lines of Heath. She commissioned white relief brick tiles to use as a range backsplash in a Pacific Heights kitchen, adding warmth to an otherwise ultra clean environment.

In addition to the backsplash, she had these neutral taupe dishes fired to add interest to the crisp white shelves, spacing them as if drying in kiln. 

"The iconic shapes are modern in the true sense of the word since the ceramics date back to the Fifties,” says Weiss. “I wanted artwork to stand out in the room and this is part of the art.”

Indeed, Edith Heath (1911-2005) who founded the company in the mid Forties was a true artist. The factory emerged following her sensational one-woman show at San Francisco's Palace of the Legion of Honor, where her unusual pieces were plucked  for sale by Gump’s of San Francisco. For the past half-century, Edith devoted herself to the craft of ceramics as both function and artform.  The company says Heath's passion, along with the legacy of her work in stoneware and glaze development, gives Heath its unique status in the ceramic world. Many of her classic iconic pieces live in the permanent collections of museums such as the MOMA in New York City.

Aspiring to maintain the local craftsman traditions, husband and wife team, Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey (above) bought the business in 2003. They set out to revitalize the business while expanding it beyond the Bay  to a new studio in Los Angeles last year.

They hold open studios in both locations, allowing visitors to tour the factory and kilns and see the large inventory of products. I personally get lost in there with so much of interest to stimulate the senses from gorgeous field tiles in 80 glazes to organic cotton linens, design books, and of course the famous tableware that includes an understated Chez Panisse line – a collaboration between Alice Waters, Christina Kim and Heath Ceramics for use in the famed restaurant. Heath has also crafted an exclusive glaze for Slanted Door restaurant and other unique serving ware for Kokkari and Auberge du Soleil.

In keeping up with the green trends, the company also offers Kiln Shelves made from glazed and recycled kiln furniture to use for exterior walls and floor pavers.

The good news is there are often advertised sales at the Sausalito store, including one May 8-10 with 20% or more off the inventory. Tour the factory for the Open Studio, May 9-10 (all events are free, first-come, first-served and recommended for ages 6+ with adult supervision)
 

Here's the Sausalito Schedule of events:

• 10:00 - coffee and pastries to kick-off the morning - provided by Tera Ancona of Cibo (a new Sausalito cafe, opening soon!)
• 11:00-4:00 (on going) Tile glazing activity - we'll provide an unglazed 6x6 Heath tile for you to do your very own glaze experiments on. Anyone can do it. We'll fire it for you during the week and it will be available for you to pick up the following weekend.
• 11:30-3:30 Goodies from Green Chile Kitchen and tasty sweets by Valerie Confections
• 11:00-4:00 (leaving every hour) Heath Factory Tour - go behind the scenes of the Heath factory - meet our production staff and watch how many of our pieces are made - from clay making to forming to glazing to kiln-firing. Our tours will give you an even greater appreciation for the artistry in each Heath piece.
• Raffle (on going) - feeling lucky? Enter to win three Heath bowls (winner will be contacted on Monday).

If you don’t see something at the factory you wish to buy for your next remodel project, remember Heath will customize tiles and ceramic dishes as it did for designer Jennifer Weiss. I think it’s great to buy local and know you are not just supporting a beloved Bay Area business but helping to maintain a nearly 70-year-old ceramics tradition that is witnessing a mid-century revival.

If you're up for traveling later this month, The Pasadena Museum of California will be celebrating Edith Heath with an exhibit that begins May 31: Edith Head: Tabletop Modernist. It runs through September 20, 2009.