That One Thing: Heath Ceramics

The field of ceramics is one whose resulting creations are always useful, but not always well-made. Whether it’s remodeling a home with tile, creating place settings at a table, or gifting flowers in a vase, ceramics are everywhere- and choosing to forgo the omnipresent mass-produced for the handmade can have a huge effect on the impact they make. Heath Ceramics is one such company that commits itself to quality over quantity, fashioning all manner of items in California with a focus on craftsmanship and design.

Heath originated in 1948 Sausalito, the brainchild of a husband-and-wife duo who respectively found their niches in business and pottery. Years after pioneering several design techniques from what was originally nothing more than a hobby, Edith Heath stepped down from the company and her husband Brian followed. Now, it's owned by another couple — Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey — who have expanded the business while keeping it true to its roots; the original Sausalito factory is dedicated to dinnerware and décor, while San Francisco houses Heath's tile workshop.

This is a company with a culture that's built on every day (literally and figuratively) by its artists, and that's why I love Heath: their mission is similar to ours. I have some of their dishes, and the fact that each piece is ever-so-slightly different is a testament to the handmade quality of their work. My next venture? Adding some Heath tiling to my kitchen.