Another tale from the Karoo from our regular guest blogger and Karoo local, Rose Willis.
The Fransie Pienaar Museum in Prince Albert has a range of chairs with fascinating histories. The oldest, a “riempie” (leather thong) chair, was made in 1840 by F F de Wit, whose sister, Christina, married Voortrekker leader, Andries Pretorius. Six spindle-back bentwood chairs with arm-rests elegantly set off the huge table which has pride of place in the old dining room. Other bentwoods are strategically placed so researchers can comfortably browse through old documents, newspapers and books.
Fransie Pienaar Museum in Prince Albert - a festival of history
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The museum also boasts a patented stroller (walking ring) with metal castors. Made of wood, spring steel and leather, it belonged to Fransie Pienaar’s family and did sterling service for years helping babies learn to walk and strengthen their legs.
Then there is J J Bothma’s barber’s chair. He opened a barber shop in the village in 1975 and presented the chair to the museum when the shop closed. In the Basson Room are four magnificently carved chairs with a distinct Middle Eastern “flavour.” These were made by Piet Basson. Born on Vyevlei in 1918, he rose to become a director of Iscor, but returned to Prince Albert when he retired to indulge in his hobby – wood carving. He loved was the Middle East, travelled there frequently and once spent time in the palace of the Shah of Iran. The chairs are his own design and he worked on them from 1985 to 1988.
The newest is a modern office chair and the most unusual are eight recycled plastic benches strategically placed outside.
ABOUT THE BLOGGER
Rose Willis, pictured left, doyenne storyteller of the
Karoo, is blogging for us, and of course for you. Rose is well known for her regular Rosies Round-Up newlsetter which was printed and posted in the old-fashioned way to many thousands of avid readers overs the years. Anecdotes, tales, legends, heroes and villians all formed part of Rosie’s writings. You can now keep up to date with Rose's regular Karoo snippets right here at the Portfolio Travel Blog each month.
Stay in the Karoo
Portfolio Collection offers a selection of Great Karoo and Klein Karoo accommodation at B&Bs, Farm Stays, Guest Houses and Boutique Hotels. A visit to this unique part of the country is ideal for hiking, photography, star gazing, game viewing and quad biking.
