As our magnificent autumn draws to a close, the Sycamore in our car park has shed her red dress and is now just a rush of falling yellow leaves, creating a pool of molten gold at her feet. Which brings to mind the gleaming gold leaf bowls we have in for the first time by the talented Michou Osterwald.
I first saw Michou’s work in Ebony in Francshhoek and was struck by the chic modernity of it and the attractive fusion of European sophistication and African tactile rawness. Michou was warmly welcoming when I called to her stylish home over-looking the Atlantic and I was awed by her knowledge of her subject whilst finding her enthusiasm infectious. She describes the laborious process as ‘water-gilding with precious metals’ and the end result is an already beautiful natural wooden bowl is transformed into a rich, glimmering, priceless looking exotic vessel – each one numbered and unique. We are proud to have four stunning pieces on this show by Michou and anyone more interested in her work can see her featured in Thames and Hudson’s recent publication “Contemporary Design Africa”.
