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Ardmore Book - We Are Because of Others

By Ardmore Ceramics

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• Colourful, imaginative, vibrant, delicate and dramatic - these are just some of the hallmarks of the artworks that have garnered international accolades for Ardmore Ceramic Art in rural KwaZulu-Natal. It is here, in South Africa's most successful ceramics studio set in the verdant Midlands, that exquisitely handcrafted and highly detailed figurative works and functional ware are created by more than fifty artists who draw on Zulu traditions and folklore, history, the natural world, and their own lives for inspiration.

  In turn, it is the lives of the sculptors and painters of Ardmore that fire the vision of the woman behind it all: Fee Halsted is an artist whose love of teaching and determination to fight poverty and AIDS have set others on the path of creative self-discovery and ultimately worldwide acclaim.

  Ardmore - We are because of others tells the extraordinary story of this famous studio, from its humble beginnings in a poverty-stricken corner of South Africa to its fame as a producer of exceptional and irresistible objets d'art prized by collectors, galleries and museums throughout the world. It is also the story of indomitable Fee Halsted who is the driving force behind the enterprise and the artists whose inventive spirit and fearless creativity are at the heart of Ardmore.

• Ardmore is a thriving artist community creating unique ceramics in KwaZulu-Natal and was founded by Fée Halsted in 1985 at the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains and where she began teaching locals how to model and paint pottery. 
  
  
  The sale of  Ardmore works uplifts and supports the Ardmore community and their families as the artists are paid per piece and have a guaranteed market for their craft. 
  
  There are now more than sixty artists working in collaboration at Ardmore under Fee’s guidance. Two or three artists are involved in each piece, which is individually thrown on the potter’s wheel, modelled and hand-painted. Each piece is unique and masterpieces can take several months to complete.
  
  Energetic movement, intricate detailing and vibrant color defines the Ardmore aesthetic. Safari animals burst with life from luxuriant foliage to form quirky vases, candlesticks, tureens and teapots. There are also exciting forms of sculptural art based on Zulu folklore and tribal traditions.
  
  Ardmore Design 
  
  Since 2010, the fantasy world of Ardmore has been translated into a range of fabric designs, which have been made into tablecloths, napkins and runners. Stylish ladies’ handbags featuring the flora and fauna of Africa have been followed by sophisticated silk scarves by Hermès, the luxury French design house. The ideas of a new generation are now making an impact at Ardmore with Fee’s children Jonathan, Catherine and Megan Berning working with young sculptors and painters, including children of the original Ardmore artists.
  
  Christie’s auction house has acknowledged Ardmore artworks as “modern-day collectables”. Exhibitions of Ardmore are held in art galleries around the world and represented in public collections, such as the Museum of Art & Design in New York and the Museum of Cultures in Basel. The largest American collection can be seen at the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts in South Florida.

• We will gladly assist you with the packaging and delivery of artworks purchased from any of our galleries or online.

  There are various packaging options. In all instances, we will recommend the most suitable option for packing your specific artwork(s) - Read more...

• In the very unlikely event that you are not entirely satisfied with your art purchase, we offer you additional peace of mind with our 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee.

  Our full money back 10 day Return Policy applies for online purchases only. If you feel you need to return your artwork, for whatever reason, you can notify us within 10 (ten) days of your purchase, return the item to us and receive a full refund - Read more...