The Ceramic Pottery Brand At The Thrift Store To Look Out For (It Can Be So Valuable)

When we wander through the thrift store or peruse the shelves of an estate sale, we're not just poised to take home new decor. We are adopting a piece of history and taking up the baton to continue its story. This is what makes shopping vintage such a treat. You gain access to a treasure trove of unique styles, often no longer in production. The history and beauty of a vintage piece injects the modern home with a palpable sense of depth that you simply cannot achieve with newer, mass-produced home goods. From furniture to wall hangings, there is no shortage of vintage pieces to consider bringing home. Vintage pottery is especially compelling to hunt down. One brand of vintage pottery to look for at the thrift store is Heath Ceramics.

With humble origins in 1948 California, Heath Ceramics started as a small pottery operation headed by Edith and Brian Heath. This company revolutionized the pottery craft by playing with novel clay mixes while keeping practical, modern sensibilities at the core of their designs. Edith Heath, the artisan behind the project, was particularly drawn to the ideal of cultivating a uniquely American design divorced from the pageantry and ornate nature of European dinnerware — ceramics for everyday life. As Heath Ceramics grew post-war, it went on to serve as a staple of the mid-century modernism movement. Today, Heath Ceramics still produces ceramics in a human-scale factory. However, you shouldn't pass up valuable vintage Heath Ceramics if you stumble across them at the thrift store. These can resell for hundreds of dollars.

If you're hoping to find Heath Ceramics at the thrift store, scan for the signature neutral color palette and trademark midcentury modern design. If you find a piece you think might be an Edith Heath original, check the bottom for a backstamp logo. If it's an authentic piece, it should feature an all-caps "HEATH" where the line of the "T" drops down to form an inverted triangle resting on a horizontal line, almost looking like a mug sitting on a potter's wheel. Some studio pieces just feature the all-caps "HEATH" logo so don't write a piece off if that's all you see. If you're still unsure of the authenticity of a piece, you can ask for the opinion of a pottery expert.

If money is no object to you or you simply don't want to hunt down vintage Heath Ceramics in the wild, you can easily purchase pre-loved dinnerware and accessories directly from the company's Pass the Plate vintage market. While this does offer the benefit of guaranteed authenticity, it also comes at the cost of a higher price tag. If you're keen on browsing online offerings, eBay features a robust collection to explore. But if you're looking for the best deal possible, you should keep your eyes peeled for Heath Ceramics at your local thrift shop, flea market, or estate sale.

Once you bring home your Heath Ceramics finds, don't be afraid to get some good use out of them. Edith Heath never intended for her work to collect dust in a china cabinet — she designed her ceramics with practical everyday use in mind. If you're lucky enough to acquire Heath Ceramics dinnerware, there's nothing wrong with saving it for special occasions, but just know these pieces are built to withstand daily use. Just be sure to maintain proper upkeep. While Heath Ceramics are dishwasher-safe, you should avoid abrasive or acidic detergents. Out of caution, the best way to care for your vintage ceramics would be to hand wash them with mild dish soap.

Heath Ceramics also manufactured an array of accessories perfect for the modern home. If you have pieces you'd like to display, there are plenty of ways to decorate with pottery in your home. You could show off small vases on a shelf or use a large bowl as a centerpiece. Style a bud vase or set of ceramic candle holders on a tray with other trinkets. Use a shallow Heath Ceramics bowl as a ring holder. Ultimately, the secret to using vintage ceramics as decor is merging the old with the new. Allow your vintage ceramics to play off of more modern elements to cultivate a deeply personal, storied interior design.