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.

BrowseResults
Lot 5
Lot 6
Lot 7
  • A Cape Neo-classical stinkwood, teak and fruitwood rusbank, early 19th century
  • A Cape Neo-classical stinkwood, teak and fruitwood rusbank, early 19th century
  • A Cape Neo-classical stinkwood, teak and fruitwood rusbank, early 19th century
Add to Wishlist
SaveSendPin ItCurrency
Lot Estimate
ZAR 40 000 - 50 000

About this Item

A Cape Neo-classical stinkwood, teak and fruitwood rusbank, early 19th century

Provenance

Vredenhof, Rosebank, Cape Town

Stephan Welz & Co, Cape Town, 16 October 2001, lot 404

Stephan Welz & Co, Cape Town, 18 October 2006, lot 414

Literature

Michael Baraitser and Anton Obholzer (1987) Town Furniture of the Cape, Cape Town: Struik, illustrated on page 199.

Michael Baraitser and Anton Obholzer (2004) Cape Antique Furniture, Cape Town: Struik, illustrated on page 223.

Notes

The developmental pattern of the rusbank approximates to that of the chair and the design of the majority of Cape settees is one of single chairs joined together. The Neo-classical rusbank typically have fluted, tapering legs and simple vertical back slats. This example has no H-stretcher, only rails for reinforcement.

Whilst most early Cape pieces were influenced by European furniture, the rusbank is typically South African and was used as seating for the stoep and hall.

Browse
Results
Lot 5
Lot 6
Lot 7
Other lots that might interest you
A Cape stinkwood side table, late 18th century
2
A Cape stinkwood side table, late 18th century
ZAR 10 000 - 12 000
A Cape stinkwood and fruitwood side chair, early 19th century
5
A Cape stinkwood and fruitwood side chair, early 19th century
ZAR 4 000 - 6 000
A Cape stinkwood Neo-classical armchair, early 19th century
8
A Cape stinkwood Neo-classical armchair, early 19th century
ZAR 8 000 - 10 000
A Cape yellowwood and stinkwood inlaid side table, early 19th century
10
A Cape yellowwood and stinkwood inlaid side table, early 19th century
ZAR 8 000 - 10 000
A set of five Cape stinkwood dining chairs, 19th century
13
A set of five Cape stinkwood dining chairs, 19th century
ZAR 15 000 - 20 000
A Cape Regency stinkwood armchair, Eastern Cape, 19th century
16
A Cape Regency stinkwood armchair, Eastern Cape, 19th century
ZAR 6 000 - 8 000