About Rialheim
An Imaginary World
The Heart - Why We Exist
In a world full of mass-produced goods detached from their makers, Rialheim exists to restore meaning and connection. From our studio at Clairvaux Estate in Robertson, surrounded by the Langeberg Mountains, we craft pieces that honour both the hands that shape them and the homes they complete.
A home is more than walls — it’s the footprints of your life: your memories, your travels, and your imagination. Every piece we create invites you into our imaginary world, where safety, belonging, and love live in form and texture.
Through our ceramics and textiles, we share the stories of South Africa — its people, its fauna and flora, its humour, and its heart. For us, storytelling isn’t a detail of our work; it is the essence of our craft
The Origin - Where It All Began
Rialheim began in 2012, quite by chance, during a sabbatical that changed everything.
While mentoring a young craftsman, Rial Visagie visited a clay supplier — and walked out having purchased the entire factory. He phoned Daniel Swanepoel and said,
“I think I just bought a factory.”
Soon after, the studio moved from Johannesburg to Clairvaux Estate — a place steeped in personal history.
Here, the team found both inspiration and purpose, creating a space where artisans could live, grow gardens, and build a brand rooted in heritage, humanity, and creative freedom.
The name Rialheim reflects both our origin and our vision — a home made from our home, sent to yours.
Our guiding value remains simple:
“Leave the world better and more beautiful than you found it.”
Our Craft - How We Create
Every piece begins in imagination and takes form through African clay — sculpted, fired, and finished by hand. Our artisans breathe life into every curve, creating functional art that carries human touch — a rarity in today’s fast world.
At our solar-powered studio, we work sustainably, using energy from the African sun to fire our kilns and fuel our creativity. Each glaze, imperfection, and sculpted detail tells a story of patience, transformation, and pride in making.
The Journey — How Far We’ve Come
Over the past decade, Rialheim has grown from a small creative studio into a brand found in homes across the globe.
In 2024, Rialheim entered a new chapter through a merger withFrontierCo, enabling us to expand our manufacturing capabilities and transition fully to solar energy — a milestone that reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainability and innovation.
In 2025, we proudly celebrate10 years with @home, a partnership that has brought our handcrafted designs into thousands of South African homes.
Today, Rialheimis a South African design and manufacturing house creating ceramics, candles, and textiles that balanceartistry and function.
A Rialheim homefeels soulful, playful, and imaginative — a space where stories take shape and design lives with heart.
Through national expansion, new product categories, and creative exploration, one thing has never changed — our commitment to storytelling through craftsmanship.
Our vision is to see South African design recognized globally— celebrated for its courage, its craftsmanship, and its ability to connect people through meaningful beauty.
Our greatest achievement remains the people behind our work. Most of the artisans who began this journey with us in 2012 are still part of the Rialheim family today — a testament to loyalty, love, and shared purpose.
When you bring a Rialheimpiece into your home, you’re not just collecting an object — you become an active part of our narrative. A story of clay, of care, and of creators who believe in the beauty of what is real and tangible.
Rialheim — an Imaginary World crafted from the earth and powered by the African sun.
IMAGINARY WORLD
