EXHIBITION:  UNEARTHED – Contemporary South African Ceramics

JOHANNESBURG | Strauss & Co.

GALLERY:  Strauss and Co.
ADDRESS:  89 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg
OPENING DATE: Tuesday, 21 July 2026 at 5pm
ON EXHIBITION:  Charles Gotthard’s Soldier Pots
REGISTER, BROWSE AND BID: UNEARTHED – Contemporary South African Ceramics

It was wonderful to see Charles’s work showcased at Strauss & Co.’s Unearthed: Contemporary South African Ceramics auction, alongside some of South Africa’s most respected ceramic artists.

What many may not know is that Charles’s contribution to South African studio ceramics was recognised early in his career. In 1974, at just 23 years old, he was featured in the landmark publication, Potters of Southern Africa by Garth Clark and Lynne Wagner—one of the first comprehensive books documenting the country’s leading ceramic artists.

The book highlights Charles’s distinctive “Soldier Pots”, with their sculptural, helmet-like lids, and describes his work as “an expression of tension, reflected either through the angularity of the piece or through a conflict of positive and negative lines.” More than fifty years later, these iconic forms remain instantly recognisable and continue to be celebrated by collectors and auction houses alike.

It’s especially meaningful that Strauss & Co. continues to acknowledge Charles’s contribution to South African ceramic art, demonstrating the enduring relevance of his work and its place in our country’s artistic heritage.

Congratulations to everyone involved in Unearthed: Contemporary South African Ceramics. We look forward to seeing Charles’s work appreciated by a new generation of collectors.
See the original pages from Potters of Southern Africa (1974), featuring Charles and his early Soldier Pots—a remarkable snapshot of the beginning of a career that continues to inspire.