We have worked with Gerhard Swart and the late Anthony Harris of Ceramic Matters for more than a decade and in that time their integrity, perseverance and commitment to learning has always been a big inspiration to us. When the opportunity arose to work with Gerhard on creating a ceramic table with foldable leaves for an exhibition in Paris, I jumped at the chance to learn from him. Our working relationship is defined by a mutual respect for one another’s craft and a shared understanding of what the end result/product should be.
Born out of our shared appreciation for mid-century furniture and in particular the tables with the drop-down sides common in diners in the 50s and 60s, we decided to do something playful but with integrity and style. ‘Ceramic Matters has always been about making people aware of the potential for design in ceramics,’ says Gerhard. ‘Laurie’s untamed energy, drive and curiosity across all aspects of design makes him my first and only option when it comes to projects I just have to share.
We are really proud that Wiid is the only design studio Ceramic Matters worked with at such a collaborative level. For Gerhard, the collaboration with Wiid was born out of the desire to work with a like-minded creative.
The original ceramic tables was a collaborative initiative, a friendship and certainly an experience. Now, since 2023, the legacy of this collaboration continues to live through Wiid Design as we explore new table designs, tile manufacturing and glaze applications (in-house) at our studio in Cape Town.
