Michele Koch

Michele Koch is one of many artists and potters who lives in the arty enclave of Kommetjie right on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean on the Cape Peninsula.

She has many styles and is constantly experimenting. This collection of plates and platters features sea grass with gold trim.

The sea grass is collected on nearby Longbeach and inlaid into the clay, then bisque fired to 1000 degrees Celsius.

Michele then colours the piece and glaze fires it again to 1260 degrees Celsius

She then paints on the 24crt gold and finally the work is fired for the third time, to 700 degrees Celsius.

Without the gold, it is obviously a shorter and less expensive process, but Michele feels it adds a little sparkle and finesse to the finish of the piece and is worth the investment of time and Rand.