Since Heath was founded 75 years ago, experimentation has always been fundamental to our design process. Twice per year, we release a seasonal collection that embodies that philosophy, featuring a limited edition palette that emerges from focused exploration into glaze and technique.
For this collection, designer and long-time Heath glazer Winnie Crittenden drew on her love of California’s evergreen trees. The green palette ranges from the darkest needles of old growth to the freshest saplings, with techniques that exemplify the layered interactions within a forest ecosystem.
The Winter 2022 collection is dedicated to trees, not just for what they symbolize, but for their importance beyond the scope of human perspective. As with the trees, ceramics endure across a longer time span than humans, and become a record of all the people who interacted with them. We are called more than ever to be stewards of these living systems, which predate us by thousands of years, and should have the chance to outlive us by thousands more.
For this collection, designer and long-time Heath glazer Winnie Crittenden drew on her love of California’s evergreen trees. The green palette ranges from the darkest needles of old growth to the freshest saplings, with techniques that exemplify the layered interactions within a forest ecosystem.
The Winter 2022 collection is dedicated to trees, not just for what they symbolize, but for their importance beyond the scope of human perspective. As with the trees, ceramics endure across a longer time span than humans, and become a record of all the people who interacted with them. We are called more than ever to be stewards of these living systems, which predate us by thousands of years, and should have the chance to outlive us by thousands more.
The colors in the collection celebrate the tree’s growth through the seasons—the bright green tips of springtime contrasting with the calming, darker greens of winter. The special technique suggests the tree in winter, green boughs laden with snow.
Dinnerware
The dinnerware range includes vases, trays, bowls, and cups, many of which play with a mix of glossy and satin or matte finishes, and a combination of glaze colors in the interior and exterior of the piece. Our generously proportioned Rim Platter—which traditionally comes in black and white—will be made for this season in a deep, soft emerald glaze.
Special Technique
This season’s special technique, Silver Spruce, is reminiscent of snow settling on the branches of an evergreen tree. Glossy Emerald Green glaze is layered onto Blue Agate, and the two react in the heat of the kiln to create an organic speckling effect in shades of dark and light green.
Heath Home
The seasonal assortment for Heath Home features collaborations with vendor-partners who share the same values of craft, quality, and material integrity. This year, that network of makers includes R&D Lab glassware, Skinny LaMinx textiles, Green Grove Weavers blankets, Johanna Gullichsen linens, trays from Kaymet, pillows from Kissweh, blown glass from Cedric Mitchell, and much more—all developed in direct collaboration with Heath’s design team in dedicated palettes inspired by the collection.
Collaboration with Hideki Takayama
One of the defining aspects of Heath’s seasonal collections is our experimentation with glaze technique. At the beginning of 2023, we will release a small selection of one-of-a-kind ceramic containers, each displaying an experimental glaze from Winnie Crittenden’s development process. Each container will be fitted with a hand-carved wooden lid made by Japanese sculptor Hideki Takayama. These collector’s pieces will be sold after the holidays, and a portion of proceeds from each will be donated to forest restoration and conservation.
