For centuries, Gmundner Keramik has stood for Austrian craftsmanship and timelessly beautiful ceramic design. At the same time, the manufactory sees tableware not only as an aesthetic and qualitative arrangement, but also as a stage for art, for stories and for encounters between different cultures. With the SAN collection, a tableware series has been created in an extraordinary project that combines indigenous motifs and Austrian craftsmanship. Now the design line is being expanded with the new "ELSE" edition - based on the designs of artist Else Dam, who translates the colours, shapes and values of Namibia into fine motifs.
ART AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN CONTINENTS
The ELSE edition is the continuation of the project launched by owner Markus Friesacher in 2022. The indigenous San people live in the middle of the Kalahari Desert - bearers of an ancient culture whose knowledge and artistry are in danger of disappearing. Friesacher saw this not only as an artistic inspiration, but also as a responsibility: to make the cultural wealth of the San visible and at the same time support their community. In local workshops, the San artists put their designs on paper - drawings that expressed their deeply rooted identity and their connection to nature in warm colours and organic patterns. These ideas found their way to Austria, where they were perfected into unique pieces using the centuries-old craftsmanship of Gmunden.
A TRIBUTE TO THE DIVERSITY AND POWER OF NATURE
The motifs of the new ELSE edition also draw their inspiration from the untouched landscapes of Namibia - subtle nuances of sand, which recur in the colour gradients on ceramic, reflect the beauty and diversity of nature. The central symbol is the heart: a sign of honourable values, strength and humanity. It is at the centre of Else Dam's designs. Initially sketched on paper, the fine shapes and colours are transferred to ceramics in close collaboration with the master craftsmen at the Gmundner Werkstätten.
DESIGN MEETS RESPONSIBILITY
The SAN collection is far more than just plates, cups and bowls with an African flavour - it is an expression of respect and cultural appreciation. Each piece tells stories from the Kalahari: of sand dunes, of the play of colours in nature and of the San's deep connection to the earth. At the same time, the sale of the ceramics provides the San with a source of income, creates prospects and helps to preserve their rich culture.
The fine details and warm tones of the ELSE edition reflect what Gmundner Keramik wants to achieve with its commitment: connecting people and cultures through the power of art, giving hope and making the value of traditions visible. Each piece is unique and handmade - and a piece of living cultural history.
Discover the entire collection
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
NEW
A long-standing connection to Namibia inspired the owner of Gmundner Keramik to initiate a unique art & aid project. An artistic exchange between Gmundner Keramik and the San, a collective term for some indigenous ethnic groups in southern Africa. In several workshops in the Kalahari, artists from the San from the settlements of Donkerbos and Drimiopsis created a number of drafts, which were at first put on paper and then painted on ceramics. All editions carry the name of the respective artist who created the original. With her design, artist Else Dam aimed to capture the untouched landscape and natural colours of her homeland. Else holds honourable values close to her heart, which she expresses through the powerful symbol of the heart in her work. The fine grains of sand that shape the environment are also reflected in her design. Since this exchange, Gmundner Keramik supports the San both financially as well as with essential staple food and art supplies, to allow them to continue creating art as their main source of income.
