At Heath, we offer two clay bodies: white and brown (also referred to as Manganese). Each has distinct characteristics, including the amount they shrink during firing. In general, we do NOT recommend using two different clay bodies in a single installation, since the differences between the two may unnecessarily complicate the installation process.
Additionally, the clay body plays an important role in giving character to the tile. Depending on the translucency of the glaze, a white clay body provides a neutral background for the glaze itself and emphasizes the color variation. For other glazes, the brown clay body imparts an earthier richness.
We are currently prototyping a third clay body, Recycled, which is made from glaze and clay scraps generated during the manufacturing process. It is available with select glazes in the Stan Bitters collection.
