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African Ceramics

Early African Ceramics date back to the 7th Millennium BC.  The pots were made by hand or in a mold by the women and used for water, cooking and spiritual rituals marking life's transitions. Once dry they were put in a pile and covered with wood, grass, dung etc and fired. Nigeria and Mali were known to also use real kilns.  These older pieces were fragile, heavy and very hard to find today. The textures are intoxicating on these pots.

The Art of African Clay: Ancient Historic African Ceramics- Back Cover

Africa | Earthen Elegance ~ African Ceramic Vessel From The Newark Museum Collection

African Ceramics Today

Clementina van der Walt

Clementina van der Walt
Clementina van der Walt is a South African Ceramic Artist that has a studio in Woodstock, Cape Town. Her work is delightful and is known for both her bright colors as well as her earth tone pieces. She has worked in clay for over 40 years and has a style that is contemporary but still maintains a homespun quality. She makes tableware as well as one of a kinds and is highly collectible around the world. For more on Clementine van der Walt click here.

Clementina van der Walt


Here is an example of how I was influenced by African Ceramics and how I incorporated it into my work. 


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