A brief history of and guide to contemporary Zulu Pottery
Long held as one of the most spiritually charged Zulu art forms, Zulu ceramics have entered the 21st century as a diversifying and vital art. From independent artists to craft cooperatives, Zulu Pottery examines the techniques and individuals continuing this great tradition.
Zulu Pottery provides readers with a brief history of Zulu ceramics and a guide to contemporary Zulu pottery.
Historically, Zulu beer pots have expressed local identities, as well as nationalism, during drinking ceremonies. Serving utshwala, traditional Zulu beer, is an important social and spiritual practice in Zulu culture and a beer pot is the most respectful vessel for this cultural drink. For this reason ceramics have weathered the storm of cultural and social changes through the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today Zulu pots sold in galleries are symbols of an array of transforming cultural, national and artistic expression. Zulu Pottery provides an overview of this dynamic movement.
The author, Elizabeth Perrill, has researched Zulu pottery under many prestigious fellowships and curated exhibitions of Zulu ceramics. Her continuing research in rural and urban South Africa seeks to tie together the rich history and contemporary dynamism of Zulu ceramic traditions.
Zulu Pottery focuses on contemporary ceramics from the northern half of KwaZulu-Natal, where ongoing traditions are kept alive, to the heart of Durban, where newer artists are transforming and innovating. Masters such as Nesta Nala – as well as a new generation of artists, including Jabu Nala and Clive Sithole – have travelled the world demonstrating the art of Zulu pottery. Readers will discover the connections between:
Social History, Cultural Context, and Pot Types
Preparation, Construction, and Decoration
Firing and Finishing
Foundational Pieces and Foundational Potters
Evaluating Zulu Pottery: Creating and Selling in Contemporary Markets
Future Generations of Zulu Ceramics
Historical Collections and Sources for Zulu Pottery
Price (includes shipping in South Africa only)
