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Henriette Jane Vandon

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Henriette Jane Vandon
VANDON Henriette.jpg
Plaque Information
Date of Birth Not known
Age at Death 60 years
Transcription In Loving Memory of Henriette Jane Vandon Born 1921 Died 24/05/1981 Aged 60 Years


Artist Jane Vandon was born in around 1921. Jane and her husband Herman Emil Vandon became naturalised Australian citizens in 1960, changing their name from van Wagtendonk to Vandon.

Residences

According to Electoral Rolls, Jane and Herman were living in Claremont in 1963. From 1968 to 1980 Jane was listed as being at 23 High Road, Roleystone.

Artistic career

The contents of an article translated into English from Dutch Australian Weekly published 26 June 1970 had much to say about Jane Vandon's pottery and ceramics work:


Jane Vandon, Potter Ceramist of International Fame, by Author Jan F. Ressing Perth W.A. – Jane Vandon lived in ………. and went to technical school in Claremont. She developed into one of the renowned ceramic artists in West Australia. She studied for 4 years at the Amsterdam Technical Education School for Arts and at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and gained her diploma in graphic arts. After that she stayed with her husband Herman Vandon and 2 daughters for 6 years in Indonesia. In 1954 the family arrived in West Australia. Herman Vandon became an advertising artist and Jane studied at the Fremantle Technical School under the well-known Hungarian teacher Francis Kotal.


In 1957 she together with Mrs. J. Ewers from Cottesloe designed and produced the ceramic embossed cross for the new Church of “Our Lady Help of the Christians” in Victoria Park. The Church was designed by the architect Piet Overman. Jane Vandon specialised in the old art of ceramics. She got a lot of commissions and her works at all of her exhibitions were eagerly bought. She became assistant teacher for Francis Kotel for evening classes and also started private lessons at her property in Roleystone where she also had her ceramic oven. There is in Roleystone an international group of artists which consists of 2 ceramic artists, 2 painters, 2 sculptors, 1 enamel worker and 1 batikster[?] Teacher.


In 1969, (her husband died in 1968), she became teacher of ceramics, art history and drawing at the Technical School in Claremont, she had 125 pupils. During the summer school in Albany on the South West coast of W.A. she taught for 12 days the same subjects. Her two daughters are now married, one with a Dutchman, the other with an Englishman. Jane Vandon enjoyed international recognition and an American magazine published an article about her. The Perth museum bought one of her ceramics and it is on permanent display. Jane Vandon made pots, tilework, vases, bottles, …….., ashtrays, all sorts of wall decorations, statues, garden statues, relief work etc.


-- Translation by Pieter Tencate