South African Design: Past & Present

Timed Online Auction, 13 June - 9 July 2025

Cape Interiors: Furniture, Metalware, Silver & Glass
About the Session

This sale traces the heritage of South African design across centuries of creative expression highlighting diverse design objects through two sessions. Uniting the sessions is a celebration of the versatility of materials - metal, wood, glass, clay, fibre - and how artists and artisans have transformed them over time into works of wonder, rich in both tradition and innovation.

Sold for

ZAR 5 863
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Lot 29
Lot 30
Lot 31
  • A Cape silver Ladle, David Ficker, c.1750-1790
  • A Cape silver Ladle, David Ficker, c.1750-1790
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Lot Estimate
ZAR 4 000 - 5 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 5 863

About this Item

David Ficker
Cape Colony
A Cape silver Ladle, David Ficker, c.1750-1790
with Old English terminal and drop, handle engraved with 'B', 165g, 31cm

Notes

Likely originating from Oelsnitz in Saxony, Germany, David Ficker arrived at the Cape in 1733 as a soldier in the service of the Dutch East India Company. On 9 March 1736, he was permitted to enter the service of Mathias Lotter (Cape Silversmith) as a servant, with the condition that he could be recalled to the Castle at any time. He left Lotter’s service by mutual agreement on 15 January 1743.

Between 1747 and 1750, he is recorded as a gunmaker employed by the VOC. He became a free burgher in May 1751. By September 1748, he was referred to as a goldsmith, and by April 1754, as a silversmith. He died on 7 July 1790.

Stephan Welz (1976) Cape Silver and Silversmiths, Cape Town, AA Balkema

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Lot 29
Lot 30
Lot 31
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