The handcrafted beauty of Heath Ceramics
Once upon a time, two designers stumbled upon a curious factory—one that made ceramics—in an unlikely place: Sausalito, California. It was Heath, of course, a company founded by Edith and Brian Heath in 1948.
The couple, Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey, saw in Heath the potential for a holistic business model, one that integrated designing, making and selling.
The pair bought Heath Ceramics in 2003 and quickly set about revitalizing the company. They boosted productivity; streamlined offerings and created new products; collaborated with artists, mavericks, and companies whose vision complemented theirs; and began carrying products from independent makers.
They expanded too, opening showrooms in Los Angeles and in San Francisco’s Ferry Building, and a new tile factory and showroom in San Francisco’s Mission District in 2012. Along the way, they gained legions of fans as their products found their way into hotels, restaurants, museums, and homes worldwide. They've even won some prestigious design awards, including the Cooper Hewitt's National Design Award in 2015. That same year, Robin and Catherine authored Tile Makes The Room, which explores tile’s integral role in good design in projects across the world.
While much has changed since 1948 – and even since 2003 – some important elements have not (and never will). Most importantly, all of Heath’s products are handcrafted by skilled artisans in small runs in the Bay Area. And Edith and Brian Heath’s vision of making good things for good people—the right way—lives on.
For further information, please visit: heathceramics.com
