Skip to main content

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. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Palissy Ware

Bernard Palissy (1509-1589), French potter,  geologist and naturalist (Retrieved from: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/3-bernard- palissy-french-potter-sheila-terry.html ) "Palissy Ware" is a form of 19th Century ceramics invented by French potter Bernard Palissy.  At the time of its inception, Palissy Ware was known as "Rustique" Ware by Palissy himself. Palissy Ware is made out of earthenware and usually depicts realistic water or pond scenes with individually painted snakes, frogs, and foliage; "Palissy's distinctive style of polychrome lead-glazed earthenware in a sombre earth-toned palette, using naturalistic scenes of plants and animals cast from life,[1] was much imitated by other potters both in his own lifetime and especially in the 19th century, when pottery in Palissy's style was produced by Charles-Jean Avisseau of Tours, who rediscovered Palissy's techniques in 1843, his relatives the Landais family of To...
Post a Comment
Read more

Meissen Figurines

The history of Meissen Figurines is an interesting saga. I never knew that these little people my grandparents had on their buffets were the coveted objects of kings. During the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368), Porcelain was born in China. By the 17th century, Europeans were eager to get their hands on this strong ceramic material. China, who was making money on their sought after creations did not want to give up any secrets. So, early in the 18th century, "Augustus the Strong, elector of Saxony, arrested alchemist Johann Fredrich Bottger and imprisoned him in the town of Meissen: his mission, to discover the secret formula for hard paste porcelain. "(http://www.rauantiques.com/library/meissen--the-allure-of-continental-porcelain-506.html ) By 1708, our man Bottger figured out the formula and was released. Sure enough the factories in Europe got in on the competitive action and began creating with porcelain. Four Seasons Figurines By Meissen Source: http://www.rauantiques...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thrilled to be featured in the New Mexican’s Weekly Magazine of the Arts, “Pasatiempo”

"Another Birthday" 2024 Clay, Glazes Here is a link to the online article which was published in the February 28, 2025 real live physical newspaper Friday art section of The New Mexican :  https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/turner-carroll-gallery-turns-history-on-its-head-in-new-exhibition/article_a25205b8-ed6e-11ef-aab7-a34c880f2c57.html  Turner Carroll Gallery Turns History on its Head in New Exhibition santafenewmexican.com Nicole Merkens Art & Design www.nicolemerkens.com   Insta:  @artgirl253 Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/nicolemerkensart
Post a Comment
Read more