Strauss & co - 5 June 2017, Johannesburg

54 55 Judith Mkhabela SOUTH AFRICAN 20TH CENTURY Large Pig incised and fired clay height: 38 cm R5 000 – 8 000 Judith Mkhabela’s earliest known ceramics came from a Rorke’s Drift kiln in 1976. Thereafter, earthenware animals, baked in her home firing-pit, became her trademark. Quite typical of her style, the present lot stands on conical legs and is decorated with a fine, cross-hatched pattern reminiscent of Zulu beer pots. The pig’s open mouth might give the animal a charming expression, but it was essential in order to relieve pressure during firing. 56 Nesta Nala SOUTH AFRICAN 1940–2005 Beer Vessel signed and dated 23-7-1993 incised and fired clay height: 22 cm R7 000 – 10 000 Despite potting in a familiar Zulu tradition, Nesta Nala’s simple, elegant works remained utterly distinctive throughout her career. Her hand- coiled pots, typically smeered smooth with a calabash fragment, were intricately incised with unique, geometric patterns, before being blackened, rubbed with animal fat and burnished according to custom. 56 55