Sculptor : Phineus Mweli

Phineus Mweli was born in the Natal Midlands town of Howick in 1949.He attended the Impendle School and later worked at Michael House as a builder and a painter.In 1974 he became studio assisstant to potter David Walters at the Caversham Mill in Balgowan.Mweli packed oil kilns and helped with the glazing.There, in his spare time, he began to sculpt the clay oxen, animals and birds from his childhood.

In 1990 Phineus Mweli joined Ardmore Ceramic Art as a kiln and glaze assisstant. In 1992, encouraged by Fèe Halsted-Berning, Mweli taught himself to use a potter's wheel. Now, Phineus produced all of Ardmore's thrown pieces.

In his own signature domestic ware, Mweli combined the thrown form with sculpted animals and birds reminiscent of the small clay figures sculpted by Zulu children.

The tableware for Phinda Game Reserve was thrown by Mweli.In 1996, he moved with Fèe to Springvale Gallery and farm.In November 1999 Phineus died of HIV related diseases.