Very "Made in America"
Ceramicist Edith Heath (1911–2005) began producing her classic mid-century modern pottery in the Bay Area in 1947. Nearly 70 years later, Heath Ceramics is still crafting exquisite objects that are coveted by design addicts the world over—and anyone lucky enough to wander into one of their four brick-and-mortar showrooms. Edith Heath was an innovative technician as well as a designer, influenced by both the Bauhaus and native New Mexican potters. During World War II, when access to pottery wheels was scarce, she fashioned one herself from a treadle sewing machine, and built a kiln in her basement. Today, her work is included in collections at the MoMA and LACMA. She valued simple and durable goods, and believed in sustainable manufacturing. Much of her legacy is visible, along with her beautiful tableware and tiles, at Heath Ceramics’ showroom in the Mission.
Heath’s designs are distinguished by their clean lines, sensual textures, and understated palette of warm reds, slate grays, and watery blues. Tile is a Heath specialty and the myriad patterns and combinations presented form a dramatic visual backdrop to the retail space. Designers flock here to view the tile displays, which are frequently changing and always stunning.
Info
Address 2900 18th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94110, www.heathceramics.com, +1 415.361.5552 | Public Transport Bus: 12 (Folsom St & 18th St stop); 33 (Potrero Ave & 18th St stop) | Hours Showroom, Mon–Wed, Fri & Sat 10am–6pm, Thu 11am–7pm, Sun 11am–6pm. Factory tours, Sat & Sun at 11:30am, 3rd Fri of the month at 2pm; reservations required| Tip You can also visit the original Heath factory and showroom in Sausalito (400 Gate 5 Road), where all the tableware is crafted.
In addition to the showroom, the Mission location includes Heath’s tile factory. It’s fascinating to see the dull slabs of clay flattened out and transformed into the exquisite wall and floor tiles. One can glimpse this taking place in the background, but for a more intimate understanding of the whole process, you can join one of the scheduled tours. There each step is demonstrated, from mixing the clay to cutting the shapes, to trimming, drying, glazing, firing, and stacking the tiles. It leaves you with a deep appreciation for the combination of industrial know-how and aesthetics that harks back to an era when “Made in America” was a stamp of great pride.
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