From humble, no, the beginning
As I graciously hope that you will support me by purchasing a few of my products, it would be polite if I introduced myself to you. This is not a grandiose story, and to limit this post to a short introduction, I will leave out the boring bits, albeit most...
I am Anton van Tonder, born in 1972 in the nondescript town of Evander, South Africa. It is a small mining town I know nothing about. No matter, Boksburg is where I was raised, a small nondescript mining town...
After completing compulsory military training after school I managed to land myself an apprenticeship at S.A.A. We know how that ends but the last part of my 30 year career of fixing aeroplanes and aeroplane simulators was spent at Comair Ltd. Seven glorious years of working in a space where creativity was encouraged. Nurtured even. It was by far the most productive time of my life. I learned to write computer programs, was trusted with developing training systems, was treated like a VIP but then, in 2020, I was told to stay at home. Well what does one do at home for two weeks to flatten the no wait, months and months? Youtube.
There was this Vietnamese guy who made cement pots that amazed me. The most beautiful pots made so easily with such cheap base materials? I mean it's a pile of sand and a cup of cement. As I had all the time in the world and bored stiff and concerned about generating an income I tried my hand at it. It concerned me a little that I had made the connection between playing with sand (here in Johannesburg we are very far away from any kind of beach so this activity was triggering childhood holiday memories that I was liking a lot) and making money but I liked the results. I was amazed at how ready people where to buy them from me. Below are a few examples.
Comair applied for voluntary business rescue. The department I worked for (simulators, pilot training) still exists today in a stripped bare and sick kind of way while the carcass of Comair is picked clean by liquidators and creditors but I do not work there anymore. Truth is I don't like working night shift. So I left and now I do pottery. I made my first slab built mug in December of 2023 and bought a potters wheel in March of this year (2024). So when I title this introduction as "From the beginning", I am referring to my new career in ceramics and I invite you to join me along this amazing learning experience I am on.
Please enjoy your stay while visiting my store and I am truly grateful for your support. I will post updates of any new products I make, please check back regularly.
Thank you.
Anton