To consider a neutral, white, or off-white piece of dinnerware is to explore the nuances of a Heath glaze — each has a range of unique qualities, like finish, clay body, and edge condition, that set it apart from other glazes and give it a one-of-a-kind character. Is the surface finish glossy, matte, or a combination of both? Is it made with brown clay or white clay? Is the rim wiped or glazed? Let’s explore three white glazes that are equally beautiful, but demonstrate these qualities in different ways: Linen*, Opaque White, and Sand.
* Linen is no longer in production, but still a part of many Heath dinnerware collections. We've included it in this overview as a point of comparison to Opaque White and Sand, which are still available.
The Basics
Linen*: Semi-matte finish; white clay body; glazed edge, was available in Coupe Line but is no longer in production. Soft, smooth, and warm, Linen is applied to a white clay body, and therefore doesn’t show a lot of contrast between the glaze and the clay.
Opaque White: Glossy finish; brown clay body; wiped edge; available in Coupe, and Rim Lines, the Alabama Chanin Collection, and on a selection of Accessories. One of our oldest glazes in continuous production since the 1950s, Opaque White is versatile and bright, yet earthy and grounded by its brown clay body.
Sand: Matte finish; brown clay body; available in Coupe and a selection of Rim Line pieces with a wiped edge, and in the Chez Panisse Collection with a glazed edge. An off-white, almost grey glaze, Sand is applied to a brown clay body, which contributes to a speckled, granular look.
Left to right: Sand, Linen, Opaque White
Design Details
Since 2021, we use one clay body to produce all dinnerware and tile: brown manganese. Clay body influences glaze color in interesting ways — for example, our brown clay tends to come through on lighter, white hues. The Opaque White glaze, which features a brown clay body, yields an earthiness and depth to its glossy white finish. Linen, however, was produced on a white clay body.
Glaze finish impacts the look and feel of the piece: how it reflects or absorbs light, how it feels to use, and how food rests on it. A matte finish is unreflective and opaque, and often has a subtle texture to its surface. A glossy finish like Opaque White reflects light, while a semi-matte finish like Sand or Linen is smooth, satin, and subtly reflective.
A wiped edge emphasizes the raw clay body and its material relationship to the glaze. Some edges are wiped, to reveal the clay body below, and some edges are left glazed. It's an intentional design choice and a legacy of Edith Heath's. Opaque White’s glossy finish always features a wiped edge — a striking contrast between light glaze and dark clay body, and a defining trait of many of our glazes.
Opaque White
Sand
Linen
Image: 1 / 3
There’s a feeling and a look for any table. So much about our dinnerware is tactile: what it’s like to hold, to run your fork across the plate, to wash, and to dry. It is as much about how it feels to use as it is about how it looks, and we love how these white glazes illustrate the nuances of color, texture, and material inherent in our glazes — and we hope you do, too!
Join our mailing list to stay updated on new product launches, promotions, and musings from our team in California.
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue.
Let's take this one step at a time.
You've been shopping for and have added items from their registry to your cart. Please check out and finish your registry purchase before adding items from a different registry.
Let's take this one step at a time.
You already have items in your cart and are trying to add a registry gift. Please check out and finish your personal purchase before adding registry items to your cart.
Let's take this one step at a time.
You’ve been shopping for and have added items from their registry to your cart. Please check out and finish your registry purchase before adding personal items to your cart.
Selecting "Check Out" will allow you to complete your purchase of the registry gift(s). After your registry purchase, you can then begin shopping for another registry.
Selecting "Check Out" will allow you to complete your purchase of the item(s) already in your cart. After checking out, you can then begin shopping for the registry.
Selecting "Checkout" will allow you to complete your purchase of the registry gift(s). After your registry purchase, you can then begin shopping for personal items.
- Or -
Selecting "Empty Cart" will remove the registry gifts from your cart, and add the new gifts from the different registry. The unpurchased registry gifts will not be saved.
Selecting "Empty Cart" will remove the existing item(s) from your cart, and add your registry gift to the cart. The unpurchased item(s) from your cart will not be saved.
Selecting "Empty Cart" will remove the registry gift(s) from your cart and add your personal items to the cart. The unpurchased registry gift(s) will not be saved.
Just a Moment
We are adding your registry items to the cart for checkout.
Our monthly newsletter includes news on sales, events, people, and ideas that inspire us, including stories on makers and designers we love. We think you'll enjoy reading it!
We respect your privacy and will not sell or share your personal information to any other party.
Success
Welcome to the Family!
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna.
Good choice!
Before we can add this item, you’ll need to sign in. After you log in, you’ll be taken back to this page and can add this item to your Favorites or Registry.
