Notes

The artist entered this group of sculptures in the 2004 Brett Kebble Art Awards and was selected as a finalist. The work originally consisted of fifteen sculptures, including Gold in my Hand, now lost. The subjects relate to incidents in the lives of characters Jakobe and Nomathemba and are titled in sequence according to the narrative provided:

1. Mother and Child: signed and dated 2003; 18,5 by 9cm; condition good.

2. Horse Rider in Trouble: signed with the artist's initials and dated 2003; 16,5 by 13cm; 3cm chip on base.

3. Jakobe Fights with Angel: signed and dated 2003; 16,5 by 210cm; minor glaze loss in areas.

4. Toilet Woman: 13 by 8,5cm; 0,5cm chip on base.

5. Woman in Labour: signed with the artist's initials; 8 by 31cm; glaze loss in areas, break in left knee area repaired with adhesive.

6. Mother and Twin Daughters: signed and dated 2003; 16 by 12cm; minor glaze loss in areas.

7. Nomathemba and Mamlambo: signed and dated 2003; 15 by 12cm; glaze loss in areas, break across base repaired with adhesive.

8. Pregnant Woman: signed with the artist's initials and dated 2003; 22 by 7,5cm; break in head area repaired with adhesive.

9. The Beggar: signed with the artist's initials and dated 2003; 9 by 12cm; condition good.

10. Drunkard Man: signed with the artist's initials and dated 2003; 120 by 150cm; minor glaze loss in areas.

11. Jakobe's Father: signed with the artist's initials and dated 2003; 13 by 12,5cm; minor chips in areas.

12. Jakobe's Mother: 18 by 14cm; glaze loss on edges in areas.

13. The Last Hour: signed with the artist's initials and dated 2003; 14,5 by 19,5cm; minor glaze loss in areas, minor chips in areas, break in neck area repaired with adhesive.

14. Mourning Woman: 16 by 15,5cm; 3,5cm chip on base, minor glaze loss in areas.

Literature

Virginia MacKenny, Gus Silber, Alf Wannenburg (2004). The Brett Kebble Art Awards 2004. Cape Town: Marulelo Communications. Illustrated in colour on pages 104 and 105. The text describes the subject matter of the work: "Nomathemba and Jakobe were the richest family in the world of ceramics. They believed in the Trinity. Jakobe was very fond of horse racing. During his leisure time he entered in regional, provincial and national horse racing competitions, which he often won. In his house there were many trophies. One day during a rehearsal his horse tried to mount him. That night he dreamt he was fighting with an angel. This strange dream continued throughout the night until sunrise. The following day, his wife Nomathemba was attacked by MaMlambo, the magic snake, who was so egocentric that whenever the couple wanted to make love, she would interrupt them. However, she failed to prevent Nomathemba from becoming pregnant. Meanwhile, the horse's actions had injured Jakobe's spinal cord. He lost his job, became a beggar and started drinking liquor heavily. Nomathemba was worried for her husband. After nine months she gave birth to twins and named them Senzekile and Sinathemba. Senzekile means 'what has happened cannot be changed' and Sinathemba means 'we have hope'. Jakobe's misfortunes made him return to church. He became so ill he could hardly walk. His parents took him to hospital and tried to get medicine, but it was too late. He passed away and his wife mourned his death every day."