Flower & Flutter - Zanele for Nivek, South Africa

Name: Flower & Flutter
 
Type: None
 
Year: Late 20th century (c. 1990s)
 
Set: Yes ( 2x Small bowls)
 
Mark: Zanele for Nivek, South Africa - Zanele for Nivek, South Africa
 
History: These two small porcelain bowls are hand-painted with vivid floral motifs and buzzing insects, showcasing a folk-art style typical of late 20th-century decorative ceramics from South Africa. The design is whimsical and richly colored, featuring bees, butterflies, mushrooms, and various flowers bordered in orange. The interior glaze shows deliberate crazing, a common trait in decorative ware from this period.
 
 
The underside is signed:
 
 
“Hand Painted by Zanele for Nivek, Africa”,
 
 
identifying it as a South African studio piece—likely produced for the local or tourist market. Nivek appears to have been a studio or small ceramics enterprise that supported local artists and hand-painting techniques.
 
 
This kind of item appeals to collectors of African folk ceramics and hand-decorated wares. The decorative quality, combined with the identifiable artist (Zanele), boosts their desirability. Though utilitarian in form, these bowls are primarily collected for display.
 
Flaws: Age related crazing