Engineering Meets Craft
Inspired by the aerodynamic lines of classic British-designed planes and automobiles, Samuel Heath’s One Hundred collection has a special place in the brassware firm’s portfolio. It commemorates 200 years since its Birmingham foundry opened its doors, and is named after its address, 100 Leopold Street.
“The inspiration is the best of British engineering,” said Martyn Whieldon, deputy managing director of Samuel Heath, launching the collection as part of Focus/20’s virtual programme. “We wanted to reference the bonnet line of a timeless classic British motor car, and bring the detail of an aviation scheme with the wing handle.”
The collection is a highly versatile one, with a round or wing-handled tap design, a choice of spout heights and lengths as well as a broad range of materials that can be mixed and matched. “The mix of finishes is important – everything from brushed gold through to bronze, antique gold with black,” continues Whieldon. “Designers can select how they want the finish combinations to come together.”
Samuel Heath’s collections find their way into some of the most covetable interiors, including country hotels The Newt and Gravetye Manor, plus countless residential projects. Not just beautifully engineered, there is an element of craftsmanship to its products: they are manufactured from solid brass, which gives “a better surface finish, a good weight and good action to the control,” according to Whieldon.
Watch the virtual launch again here.
