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Heath Ceramics

2 Heath Ceramics Ash Trays Speckled Brown & Green

2 Heath Ceramics Ash Trays Speckled Brown & Green

$95.00 USD
$95.00 USD
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Set of 2, vintage mid century modern, 2 slot, ceramic, speckled glaze Ash Trays by Heath Ceramics in a 2 color, fade out style glaze with brown exterior and fade to tan on the inside of one and and celadon green on the other. These personal-size ash trays measure 3 1/8" in diameter (outside edges) and 1 3/8" high. These ash trays were designed by Edith Heath in 1950 and bear the unique, low-fired glazing technique that produced the variegated speckling of the glaze from the "bleed thru" of the minerals contained in the company's proprietary clay mixture. This technique created the classic variegated speckled color look that became popular in mid century modern pieces. Known as the "safety ash tray" due to its V-shaped slots, these ash trays, which were made in a variety of glazes and sizes, became a significant part of the Heath Ceramics business in the early decades. (See below notes for details on Heath Ceramics.) The glaze also has a slightly iridescent quality, especially noticeable on the dark brown, outer surfaces of these ash trays. The company's classic mark is incised on the bottoms. Both these ash trays are in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, breaks. The one with the tan interior has one slight bubble in the glaze on the exterior side wall, an irregularity related to the glazing process and which is original to the piece - see photos for details on condition. A lovely set for entertaining, either as ash trays or to use for serving nuts or olives with cocktails or on a charcuterie platter.

Quondam Redux

Heath Ceramics:

From 1944-1948, Edith Heath explored art pottery, making hand thrown pieces for herself, her family and friends and creating a reputation for her simple, innovative designs. She was given a solo exhibit at the San Francisco Legion of Honor (museum), which led to commissions from GUMPS, a high-end San Francisco home furnishings retailer. By 1948, Edith and her husband, Brian Heath, established Heath Ceramics in Sausalito, CA, a small bayside town just across the Golden Gate from San Francisco. In 1950, with the growth in demand for Edith's pieces, Brian, an engineer, developed mechanical molds to scale production and built a factory in 1959, helping to handle the new distribution of the pottery by Bloomingdales. In the 1960s -70s ,Heath Ceramics expanded into architectural tile and a new line of tableware that became popular for restaurants. Due to changing tastes (away from mid century modern style) over the next decade, the company saw drop in sales and production and scaled back its offerings and business. In 2003, the company was sold to Catherine Bealy and Robin Petravic, who saw the value in the design concepts of the Heaths and believed they could refresh the business and reintroduce the designs to a new generation. Mid century modern design began to see a resurgence and Heath designs were once again revered. In 2008, the company opened a studio and store in LA and in 2012, with growth in demand, opened a new production facility and retail outlet in San Francisco, where the pottery is still produced and sold today.

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