Vessel by Clive Sithole. Burnished smoke-fired clay, Height 46cm.
Since Clive Sithole has just won the ceramics/pottery category in the 2009 South African Craft Awards, it is fitting that I highlight his work at the beginning of this post, Vessels, Part II.
Vessel by Clive SitholeI love the shapes of these vessels as well as the incised or raised patterning on the highly burnished surface. Sithole gets this amazing gloss by rubbing the surface with a smooth stone. When asked where his inspiration comes from, he said "I have always collected things and in 1994, when I arrived in KwaZulu-Natal, I was introduced to traditional Zulu things, like headrests and beadwork. I visited museums to find out more about these objects and today they help to inspire my work." (You can see the headrest shapes that Sithole has used in two of these vessels )
Vessel by Clive Sithole Sithole is inspired by the work of Kenyan-born British ceramist Magdalene Odundo whose work you can see below.
Vessel by Magdalene Odundo. Brooklyn Museum
Contemporary vessel by Magdalene Odundo. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
These vessels are all fabulous in their richness, textures and the originality of design.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t choose a favorite. Each is a delight. Thank you Robyn for sharing your ability to spot art work that resonates. I feel firmly connected to the earth when I look at your finds.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. Joan T
ReplyDeleteI had heard of burnishing ceramics with a wooden spoon to get the polished "glazed" effect, but never with a stone. I shall be at the bank in the next few days!
ReplyDeleteI adore that second vessel and the very last one the mostest ... beautiful pieces.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful pieces! I would just love to run my hands over them and feel the textures!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, all these vessels make one feel connected to the earth, don't they.
ReplyDeleteJoan, it's a pleasure and thank you for visiting!
Heather, sometimes I'm amazed at how people in Africa compromise and find ingenius ways of doing things. Burnishing pots this way is an old tradition.
Michelle, the first and the last are my favourites:-)
Manon, ditto!
Vessel part 2 I really like all of them, but Vessel part 1 spooked me! I must be a bit odd
ReplyDeleteWOW what a collection, you somehow excel everytime with this research of your Robyn
ReplyDeleteRobyn, Thank you so much for the time you take to find such beautiful artwork and share with us. Your blog is incredibly inspirational.
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing, I thought the first one was copper. The metal gloss finish must have taken Clive hours. My very favourite would be the last one, the beaded gourd, I love it's simple shape and beaded detail.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing all of these wonderful collections once more.
Fantastic collection of vessels. beautiful designs.
ReplyDeleteAll the vessels you've showcased are in these two posts are beautiful! Such wonderful forms and textures - such amazing artists. Thank you for these interesting posts, Robyn
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing collection of beautiful vessels Robyn. I particularly like "pensive" and that gorgeous white, filigree vessel which resembles lace: but they are all fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI have been inspired by the head in the round vessel and I think I may try a series of heads or faces in natural objects. Off to give the idea some thought..ha ha. Thanks for the inspiration.
Sithole's work is alive. I'm sure the first piece has a heartbeat. The last is so perfect it seems larger than life.
ReplyDeleteThe ones with the beads in vessel I and II are my favourites. Exotic beadwork.
ReplyDeleteLove the varied shapes and surfaces of all these vessels.
ReplyDeletereally an elegant groups robyn, i wish i could touch Magdalene Odundo's...
ReplyDeleteIt is only now that hte simple beauty of vessels pleases me. Maybe you have to have a cetain peace or soemthing to appreciate them. the stillness...
ReplyDeleteBlu, I suppose "spirit vessels" sounds a bit spooky.
ReplyDeleteThanks T&S.
Kim, thank you!
Ro, they do look like metal when they are so highly polished don't they?
Rajesh, the shapes are so amazing too...especially Odundo's vessels.
Caroline, I found so many fantastic pieces I could do a few more posts....but I won't :-)
Cathy, I think "Pensive" is particularly beautiful too.
Shayla, lol...it doese look rather heartlike.
Wim, my favourites change from day to day.
Seth, they all have their own character don't they.
Karin, Magdalene Odundo's work just calls out to be touched.
Grrl, each piece that catches my eye has it's own beauty and each time I look at them I see more.
The warrior women vessels are lovely. And so are the others!
ReplyDeleteI could have stopped at the first vessel...beautiful and so are all the others. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteInspiration in a blog post. Thank you, Robyn.
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