Browsing by Author "Olivier, Magda"

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    Die volkskundige waarde van 'n reeks sketse en skilderye van Erich Mayer, met besondere verwysing na die stoflike kultuur van die Afrikaner
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1980) Olivier, Magda; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of . Dept. of .
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    Kaapse bergmeubels 1652-1830
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1990) Olivier, Magda; Grobbelaar, P. W.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
    The types of storage furniture used in Cape homes, as well as their function and appearance are examined in this study. The period of consideration is from 1652, when the Cape settlement was founded, until 1830 after which Cape patrician furniture manufacture began to decline. The three main groups of storage furniture which appear in furniture history are the chest, cupboard and cabinet. It is demonstrated that the inhabitants of the Cape possessed the same types of storage furniture that appeared in Europe, especially in the Netherlands. Their status in the homes and the periods of popularity differed, however. The popularity of the chest at the Cape lasted longer than in Europe. The wagon chest and the colonial luggage chest occupied unique positions in country and patrician furniture respectively. Cupboards were popular in the 18th century, but during the latter half of that century cabinets became more fashionable. In these two categories certain types achieved a certain status or popularity, e.g. the cupboard with two top drawers in country furniture and the large gabled cabinet in patrician furniture. Buffets, the major ornamental furniture of the Middle Ages, were in decline at the time the Cape settlement was founded and were in the process of being replaced by serving tables, which in their turn developed into sideboards. Few buffets were found at the Cape. It is also found that chests of drawers, one of the most popular types of storage furniture in 18th century Europe, were scarce at the Cape. Shelves had a combined storage and display function. Writing furniture was also used for the storage of smaller valuables. Not only the types in use, but also the physical appearance of Cape storage furniture correlated with that in Europe. The four major Western art styles of the 17th & 18th centuries were followed at the Cape, i.e. Classicism, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassicism, albeit with a considerable time-lag. These styles were found often to be transitional styles. Influence of the Eastern colonies is examined and it is indicated that this was restricted to the choice of materials rather than stylistic. An exception is the colonial luggage chest which was of Eastern origin. The use of solid wood rather than veneer influenced the construction methods as well as the ornament of Cape storage furniture. Overall, Cape storage furniture correlates to European types concerning both function and appearance but with a unique Cape character.