ARDMORE SERVING DISH

painted with flower and animal motive

inscribed with maker and artists' names at bottom of dish

size: 44 x 12 cm (6cm deep)

About Ardmore

Ardmore Ceramic Art was established by Fée Halsted on Ardmore Farm in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu-Natal, where she lived after obtaining her BA (Fine Arts) Honours degree and lecturing at Natal Technikon. Here she met Bonnie Ntshalintshali, daughter of their housekeeper, whose polio meant that she was unable to work in the fields. Fée and Bonnie quickly developed a synergy and under Fée's mentorship, Bonnie's natural skills as an artist blossomed. Five years later, in 1990, Fée and Bonnie were jointly awarded the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award, the first such artistic partnership to be recognised. With this success came the demands of creating ceramics for their exhibition, so Fée offered other local women the opportunity to train at Ardmore, producing pieces to generate income for the fledgling studio.

(more on Ardmore official website)

More on artists

Paulina was born in 1958 at the Zulu village near Ardmore Farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. After she left school she worked on the farm but, with the guidance of her mother Agnes Ntshalintshali, she learnt the skills of a ceramic builder. In 1990 at the age of 32 she asked Fée Halsted-Berning if she could join her mother  Agnes and her step-sister Bonnie at Ardmore's ceramic art studio. By that time Paulina was married and had five children.

The vases, jugs and bowls shehand coils are bold in concept and match her strong personality. They also have a wonderful lyrical style and a texture which is so attractive that it draws one to touch her pieces. She often uses fish and crocodiles which are amongst her favourite creatures.

Paulina's delightful creations have consistently been exhibited in South Africa and around the world since 1991. She made great friends with two of her fellow artists, Beauty Ntshalintshali and Beatrice Nyembe and says of her career: "I have been so happy at Ardmore where I have been able to educate my children and support them."

Paulina chose to remain with her family in the Drakensberg after the closure of the Ardmore Farm studio there in 2009.

Ottilia Nxumalo was born on the 08th April 1962, in Ladysmith. Ottilia did her Primary School education at Peacetown, in Ladysmith, where she achieved her Standard 5. Ottilia  is married, and has 4 children.  She never worked before starting at Ardmore. 

I heard about Ardmore from my aunt, Agnes Ntshalintshali, Paulina’s mother. “I came to ask Fée Halsted-Berning and she gave me a chance to try painting”. Ottilia’s favourite animal is the Zebra and the Giraffe.  Her favourite items to paint are Dishes and Bowls.  Her favourite colours are Chatreuse, pinks and oranges.

“I like my work, and wish to see it grow, because there is no other job I wish to do, and wish to see Ardmore grow up more, then what it is because of what I am, is because of Ardmore”

Ottilia is a happy, loving woman. Ottilia is a true colourist – her works are covered with design and colour, no white shows.  Ottilia uses the impressionistic method of stipling colour and her bowls and dishes, to create depth of colour.  Her colours mix in the eye, and create vibrant energy.  Her drawing is of less importance than colour and the naive in art.  Her works are vibrant and energetic.

When the Drakensberg Studio closed in 2009 Ottilia retired in the valley of her ancestors. Her daughter Nonhlanhla joined the Caversham Valley studio where she pursues her art and maintains the family's links with Ardmore. 

source: Ardmore official website

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