Q: Which is correct: Heintz Art Metal, Heintz Metal Art or Heintz Art?
A: Items made by the Heintz Art Metal Shop are properly called Heintz Art Metal. Unfortunately the term “art metal” has not gained the same popular acceptance and use as its ceramic cousin, “art pottery”. The terms are analagous.

Q: Any relationship to the Heinz Co. of Pittsburgh? Did they make metal items also?
A: Only the cans that the pickles or beans came in.

Q:I have four Heintz vases, all dated August 27, 1912. That’s really some coincidence, isn’t it?
A: Hardly! The die-stamped legend on the bottom of your vases, PAT.AUG.27.12, does NOT refer to a date of manufacture. It is the date of issuance of the patent for the application of sterling silver overlays to bronze without the use of solder. Your vases were presumably manufactured after that date and before Heintz closed its doors in February, 1930.

Q:My bowl doesn’t have the diamond mark but I have seen the same form with the mark. How do I know that mine is a Heintz bowl?
A: Look closely. The words PAT APD FOR were die-stamped on the bottom of items presumably made between June 7, 1911 , the date the PATent was APplieD FOR, and August 27, 1912 , the date it was granted. Prior to June 7, the word STERLING was often die-stamped into a corner of the overlay. In both cases, a 4-digit production number was sometimes also used. For a bowl, the first two digits would be 35, 36, 37, or 38. If the bowl was footed, had handles, or was lined (double-weight), the first two numbers would be 17 or 18.

Q: It says BRONZE on the bottom, so why isn't it heavy?? Why is it copper-colored?
A: THE THINKER by Rodin is cast bronze and solid, the vase by Heintz is spun bronze and is sheet metal. The bronze, normally yellow-colored before patination, is copper-plated if it is to be patinated a brown color. If it is to be Heintz's green finish, it doesn't get plated and remains yellow-colored. Your piece was once brown, and has had its original finish over-zealously scrubbed off.

Q: Are green patina pieces worth more than their brown counterparts?
A: 1916 catalog brochure states on each page "Brown patina will be furnished unless otherwise specified". This probably explains the imbalance between the number of pieces in each finish we see today. I believe collectors have personal preferences and purchase accordingly.

Q: The patina will return over time, right?
A: SOMETHING will happen with the passage of time, but it will bear no resemblance to the original factory finish. . The Heintz patinas, like those of other Arts & Crafts period metalworks, were factory-applied finishes produced with chemicals and heat.

Q: How DO you clean the silver?
A: You don’t!! I quote from the little booklet included with each new purchase: “Each piece of Heintz ware is lacquered with the highest grade lacquer obtainable, and will not tarnish. To keep this ware clean, merely wipe with dry soft cloth.”

Q: My vase says RH Macy & Co. underneath the diamond mark. Is it worth more?
A: Only if you are a Macy’s memorabilia collector. Macy’s was significant enough of a retailer to merit its own die-stamp. Others seen are Ovington, B.Altman & Co., and Cross.

Q: What is the relationship between Heintz Art Metal Shop and Silver Crest?
A: SILVERCREST is the mark of the Smith Metal Arts Co. Fred Smith was Heintz’s sales manager, and left in April 1919 to compete with his ex-employer. He initially used many of the same forms and overlays but didn’t replicate the patinas.