I heard about and saw the work of ceramicist Dale MacRitchie at Hartford House for the first time earlier this month. On my return I made an appointment to visit Dale at her studio at Springfield Convent in Wynberg.
To date Dale has created plates and bowls for Hartford House (briefed by Chef Constantijn Hahndiek
in green and cream, resembling petals to me, plus other platters which had a Zulu bead pattern imprinted into it, as well as a rose shape, to reflect the rose garden at Hartford House), and for 
Tintswalo at Chapmans Peak (Chef Guy Clark cleverly briefed Dale to do a set of three elements in charcoal grey that is used for three courses!).
Dale welcomed us warmly, and told us her background. She has been a ceramicist for the past fifteen years, and uses one section of the art department of Springfield Convent, at which she is a freelance teacher, as well as teaching at Bishops, WP Prep, and at Rustenburg. She has a 
BA in Fine Arts from Natal University, mentioning Ian Calder and Juliet Armstrong as mentoring lecturers. She grew up in Dundee, and it was a school visit to Rorke’s Drift, where locals are taught skills such as ceramics, that Dale knew that she wanted to be a ceramicist, fascinated with the throwing of clay. She did a teacher’s diploma too, fearing that she could not make a living from Ceramics alone. That fear is about to go, given her new diningware focus. She taught in London, returned to teach at an autistic school in Cape Town, and then set up her own Ceramics 
studio, first at home and then at Springfield. In this time she went through a personal journey, reconnecting with her creativity again, and was particularly inspired by the Indian design and symmetry in the Mandala patterns, which she has incorporated in some of her work. She regrets not having been to India yet. She is an avid scuba diver, and every spare Rand is invested in yet another trip to Egypt, to develop
this love.
Dale has developed themes for her Ceramics, including Fynbos, and I saw a Royal Red protea dish in this range, but there is also an African Flame range, a Wild Daisy range, Royal Green Protea range, African Daisy range, Heather range, Antique Pincushion range, and Erica range; and Oceanics, including the shell dish (Urchin Platter main photograph, Dune Vase, Sand Canyon platter, Sun Coral Vase, Wave Vase, Anemone Reef platter, Fibonacci platter, Tidal Rock Vase, and Cross Currents Vase). Dale’s website refers to a Vine Platter too, and an Eastern Platter. She also custom-makes bowls and platters for chef clients, from their brief. She offers classes to outsiders, including adults, teaching them the decoration of bowls and dishes.
Antique Green & Aubergine Handmade Ceramics by Dale MacRitchie, Cell 083 651 2540 www.AandAceramics.com Facebook: Dale MacRitchie.
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whalecottage.com/blog Tel 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Twitter: @ulmenstein Instagram: @chris_ulmenstein
20
3070
27k
20