I received a gift recently. The best birthday gift I think I've ever received. A box of color. Astonishingly pure color. This color comes in the form of Heath Ceramics.
If you're not familiar with Heath, here's a little background. Edith Heath began producing stoneware ceramics in the 1940s in Northern California with the idea of making "simple, good things for good people." She produced ceramics with an exquisite level of craftsmanship that continues today. The company maintains that level of quality and craft, with particular attention paid to responsibility in production from the environment to their workers. They produce something that we should be proud to call American and in a way that we could learn from, especially in today's economy. Heath produces tableware and tile ceramics in Sausalito. They have retail stores in Sausalito and Los Angeles. Learn more about their history and offerings on their web site.
I've long admired the company and their products, but thought them a bit out of my reach, at this point in my life. These plates and bowls and serving pieces are the kind of thing I would want to build a shrine to house and admire them in, when not in use. But without so much as a dining room in our little house, they seemed a bit impractical for us now. Maybe one day. 
But my husband surprised me with some pieces as the start of a collection for my birthday recently. Yes, best hubby of the year candidate, right here. I have been so blown away by them, I don't even know how to write about them. They have a special, knowing relationship with light that clearly goes way back. It will be a long, long time before I am able to adequately capture them with a camera, but oh how I will try. Here are just a few pieces to start, simple plates. 
Their balance of aqua faces and chocolate brown undersides is delicious. So delicious that I think I could take nourishment from them just by looking, forget the food. I am awed. Thank you, thank you, thank you, G.
Here's a taste so you can see what I'm talking about.
May 17, 2009
Heath Ceramics
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3 comments:
Seriously. Great husband. I live around the corner from Heath and try not to walk past the store on a frequent basis for fear of 1) crying at the window 2) pulling out my credit card and buying all the things I love/want. So far no purchases have been made, but maybe starting with two pieces is a nice, reasonable way to start a collection.
Congrats. And happy birthday!
Thanks, Brooke!! If I had to walk by a Heath window every day, I'd be in big trouble. There are actually little individual cereal bowls and dessert bowls as well as large serving bowls that came with these plates. Just haven't had time to photograph them yet. So more to come. I can't stop looking at them and gushing over them.
I love heath ceramics!
I sell it in my shop and always tell my customers the best way to collect Heath is piece by piece. It makes it so much more fun and you'll be amazed how quickly your collection grows.
you can see my collection here:
http://www.nest-living.com/pages/heath-ceramics
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