* This article first appeared here in YourLuxury Africa
Driving into Franschhoek, you’ll likely see the brightly painted elephant and rhino calf on the kerb — what you might not know is that they are handmade and painted by local artists right on site. During my recent visit to Franschhoek, I couldn’t resist stepping into Orgari. An hour later, I left feeling incredibly inspired, with a handcrafted memento of my visit.
Nicholas Snaith is the lively entrepreneur leading Orgari, and over a coffee on Franschhoek’s main street, he shared how Orgari came to be. During the COVID crisis, retail spaces were struggling, so he had to think creatively.
“We knew a Zimbabwean who was a ceramic painter, and my partner at the time and I commissioned him to produce items. Another store owner suggested painting some large platters with rhinos to be auctioned — this was during the height of the rhino crisis. The auction was successful, and we realised this was our path.”
They started with the rhinos, which at their peak sold to over 100 stores. Franschhoek sales stood out, and during a visit to the village, Nicholas saw the market potential with both foreign and local visitors. Soon, the store opened, and the invitation was extended to emerging artists.
Orgari offers an entry salary to learners — even those with no formal skills — as long as they have an aptitude for art and a willingness to learn. Today, seven full-time artists work at the Franschoek studio.
While rhinos remain popular, Franschoek’s history inspired the creation of their first baby elephant — a beautifully painted, life-sized calf that now sits proudly on the kerb.
“Not many people know that the village’s original name was Olifantshoek — Afrikaans for Elephant’s Corner — named after the pachyderms that once visited the valley annually to calve.”
Part of the Orgari magic is the chance to watch the artists at work in the studio, as all the products are made on-site — the only store in Franschhoek to do so. Picking a vase from the shelf, Nicholas introduces me to Nolitha, who is painting at the neighbouring table. I praise her work, and she responds with a shy smile.
Next to her, Nicolas Ntsabo sits painting a large elephant. Clearly enjoying himself, I ask him what the opportunity means to him.
“I’m living my dream,” he says proudly. “I’m from a small town called Willowvale in Gatyana, in the Eastern Cape. Someone told me about Orgari and that they do handmade art, and I was interested, as I’m artistic. I reached out, and they saw my potential — that’s how I ended up here. I’m living my dream because I get to tell my story through my painting.”
The range includes ceramic animals, plates, and vases, and will soon expand to a dung beetle candle range. For discerning travellers wanting to take home a piece of Africa, knowing their purchase supports local artisans, Orgari is a natural choice. Back in London, my new protea vase serves as a reminder of South Africa’s rich flora — and the creativity of its people. orgari.co.za
