If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Important Press Release and Notification for the Sale of Business:

Peter Kroll Designer Tiles has stopped its manufacturing operation.

• We have a large stock of tiles for sale of different sizes, shapes and colours. These are stored at our home address: 51 Oak Ave, Linbro Park A.H. (click on “contact us” for direction map).
• Price per carton is reduced from R700 to R300 irrespective of colour, size or grade. Further discounts apply for bulk quantities.

• Also for sale is our HYMAX switchboard, sundry office furniture and the entire plant & equipment which was used in the ceramic tile manufacturing process.
• Photos are displayed on our web page:http://www.peterkrolltiles.co.za/factory/
• Everything is on show at 51 Oak Avenue.

Price is R850,000 neg. Please phone for appointment.

Also for sale are our 2 companies

• PETER KROLL DESIGNER TILES CC  and PETER KROLL TILES (PTY) LTD as well as intellectual property i.e our unrivalled glaze recipies.
• The name of Peter Kroll Tiles is legendary In South Africa and is a powerful marketing tool.

Please phone prior to arrival. Contact us at:

1. Tina Kroll at 082- 828 6202 or
2. Rob Cochrane at 072 -878 7467
3. Landline : 011- 608 1641

http://www.peterkrolltiles.co.za/index.htm
tina@peterkrolltiles.co.za

Some Images of the Plant Machinery that is For Sale 

http://www.peterkrolltiles.co.za/index.htm
tina@peterkrolltiles.co.za

No Comments »

Can you imagine living and sharing in this room? This is my dream!

When traveling in a country, like Spain, with a culture rich in the embellishment of their homes and their use of decorative arts and craft, it is easy to overlook or not to recognize this type of embellishment.

The roof is definitely an area with great decorating potential, even in a modern society like ours today.

2 Comments »

This ‘mono-block porcelain chair’ by Sam Durant, built by Jiao Zhi studio, Xiamen, china (2006), as with the other chairs, interest me as far as the artist outsource the production of this visionary concept. I do think that ceramic artists must embrace these opportunities. By not choosing the traditional self-made option, a talented artist can add more value to his or her ideas, by saving on time to master the complexities involved in making these chairs.

Visit www.designboom.com for this interesting post.

The text from Sadie Cole’s website below relates to why an artist would like to express himself in this way and why it is important. It is not really about what he made here, but to what he makes happen, the object confronts you and it questions it’s own existence. The historical relevance of this object will make it collectible and traceable to a point and time in our history.

“Sam Durant’s series of sculptures replicates mass-produced plastic lawn chairs in fine Chinese porcelain,inviting the viewer to consider the aesthetic value of one of the world’s most democratic objects.
By remaking cheap garden furniture, often mass-produced in china, into one-off, handmade, high-end goods,Durant’s sculptures form an ironic comment on the condition of globalisation.

They pose many questions about the nature of mass consumption, the stereotyped saturation of the markets with cheap Chinese goods, and the impact of emergent industries on native and foreign cultures.”

No Comments »

The Eskom issue was a relevant wakeup call for most businesses and individuals. I believe that an acute awareness regarding the abuse of resources will take hold. Up to date we could manage the power crises and it actually  made us  more resourceful in finding adequate solutions.

[Environmental consciousness]

I think that we will see an acceleration towards a more “green” and healthier environment in the construction industry. The application of our handmade tiles in the home, hospitality or commercial projects will recreate and enhance the feeling of well being that only handmade tiles can achieve.Environmental consciousness will drive producers and ceramic designers to conserve not just energy but materials and water resources.

At Southern Art Ceramics:

RE: ENERGY

• All the kiln furniture got replaced by hollow core kiln shelves that weigh 30% less and the kiln either consume less energy when using the same quantity kiln shelves or for the same consumption the output per kiln can be increased by 30%.
• The average delivery time has been changed from 15days to 20 working days, affording us the opportunity to only fire fully packed “dry” kilns.
• If at all possible the kilns fire at full power at off peak times, saving us money and relieving stress on the power grid.
• All clay products are dried in the roof if possible or close to kilns to ensure the shortest possible kiln cycles to fire the ware. In Hermanus being close to the coast and the resultant high humidity during winter months, drying the wet clay can become problematic increasing our reliance on the flow of warm air and heating.
• At the showroom we only switch on lights for walk-in clients when they need optimum viewing qualities. We aim to open by appointment soon and this will make it even easier to control the perceived presentability of our gallery, regarding the first impression on walking into a dark studio when lights are switched of.
• Looking at our past performance it is clear that energy consumption as a percentage of turnover increases when the business experienced periods of low margins.
• Moving away from mass produced dinner ware and a stock carrying entity towards the production of commissioned and customized briefs was in itself beneficial to the most productive use of energy resources.

RE: WATER

• The contaminated water is recycled in a drum. In the mornings the clear water is siphoned of and the “new dirty” water returned during the day.
• Training staff making them conscious of how easily one can change routines and habits is an ongoing exercise.

RE: MATERIALS

• I have done experiments with the slurry that is left after recycling water for several months and have been successful in creating viable tile products from this clay slurry contaminated by several coloring pigments, plaster of paris, dust, dirt, soaps, etc.

The net effect will be reflected by progressive development of new design elements and the next few years will see us develop tile concepts using the discarded and natural debris found around us. Leather and bamboo tiles are growing in popularity.

Think twice and consume wisely, it is easy, and the gratification huge! The earth is our mother, our provider and safe keeper. We must stay humble as we cannot replace her!

No Comments »

The last years have seen the development of Hermanus as a dynamic art destination gain momentum. Several new galleries opened, exhibitions are advertised everywhere, print media articles and web presence abound.

This excitement is flowing through to even the disadvantage communities as they sense the opportunities of tourism and the 2010 World Cup Soccer branding, grabbing the attention of most ambitious individuals. Be so kind and follow my Kwasa - Kwasa blogposts.

Patrick Chapman is the driving force behind the Arts Page in the Hermanus Times and The Philip Harper Galleries utilize the back page of the SA Art Times to advertise and drive feet to Hermanus.

Many artists are rising to these new opportunities, Tay Dall opened The Tay Modern, Shelley Adams and others are steadily building their profiles, and many younger ones might earn a living with their creative talents.

No Comments »

The shock of the new - ceramic art prices.

In the ceramic fraternity several exceptional artists exist but they lack the confidence to value their work in the context of the correct platform.

I admire and am genuinely fascinated by the originality of Robert Hodgin’s ceramics. The intensity of the work subverts the fact that it is actually painted by a mainstream fine artist onto a ceramic canvas. His clientele recognize and value this exhibition as ART because Hodgin’s exhibits these ceramic canvasses as art and nothing less, take it or leave it.

Mr Hodgins shows the confidence of a master, and as such prices his artwork on a ceramic canvass accordingly.

Robert Hodgin’s, is setting a new framework of reference regarding price for the ceramic art patron, and I will not be surprised that if he only exhibits sculptural work, that we shall see sales, with prices far in excess of R100 000 per small scale sculptural art work!

The Bell-Roberts Contemporary Gallery at Lourensford Wine Estate hosted The Ceramic Art Of Robert Hodgins and images of his artwork can be viewed here.

Artists and designers from outside the ceramic fraternity add more value to ceramics, with most of these embracing cross-disciplinary experiences. The ceramic community are their own biggest enemy, with many prominent ceramic artists selling work at ridiculously low prices, eroding the viability of ceramics as a singular source of income.

I maintain that the choice of selling platform has a direct relation to the viability of the ceramic artist’s creative output.

To be continued …

4 Comments »