Arundhati Saraswatula appointed as our Ceramics Curatorial Fellow

We are thrilled to appoint Arundhati Saraswatula as the recipient of our new Curatorial Fellowship in Ceramics, thanks to the generous support of The Headley Trust. This post is the first of two Fellowships for early-career curators that will be delivered over the next three years.

During her time with us, Arundhati will lead our 2027 Ceramics Artist in Residence programme, contribute to the redisplay of our ceramics gallery, co-curate a new display exploring ceramics and transatlantic trade in Bideford, undertake original research and produce a small publication about our ceramics collections

Arundhati Saraswatula

Arundhati Saraswatula grew up in Cambridge. She read French and Spanish at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (2019-23) with a particular interest in the philosophy and literature of the 18th century. After having completed her MSt in British and European History at Somerville College, Oxford (2024-25), focusing on the visual culture of the French Revolution, she spent a year at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire as the Curatorial intern where she was initiated into the world of decorative arts. She co-curated the 2026 Waddesdon exhibitions, Saved for the Nation and American Connections, contributing to the exhibition catalogue for Sèvres, une passion Rothschild (2026) in Paris and producing research for The French Porcelain Society Journal about her beloved elephant-head vases. She’s also a keen squash player and avid drum and bass lover.

Publications

• ‘Interpreting the Elephant in the Sèvres Elephant-head Vases’, The French Porcelain Society Journal, volume 11, 2027 (forthcoming)
• ‘Shared stories at Waddesdon: Garrick and Beaumarchais’, Waddesdon Manor blog, 25th May 2026. Shared Histories at Waddesdon Manor: Garrick and Beaumarchais - Waddesdon Manor
• Exhibition catalogue essay: Elephant Candelabrum Vase (no. 114), Sèvres, a Rothschild Passion, 2026
• ‘Waddesdon Christmas 2025: The Rona, Ferdinand’s travels and Rothschild yachting’, Waddesdon Manor blog, 28th Nov 2025 The Rona, Ferdinand’s Travels and Rothschild Yachting - Waddesdon Manor