Cape stinkwood rusbank, circa 1800

About this Item

Cape stinkwood rusbank, circa 1800

with four-chair back, each with stepped triangular toprail above a split splat, caned seat, the arms carved with diamond motifs, on tapering square-section legs joined at the top, square and block feet, the inside of the back seat-rail impressed with the date 1800, 214cm long

Literature

Michael Baraitser and Anton Obholzer, Cape Country Furniture, Struik, Cape Town, 1978, second revised edition, page 126, illustration nos 423 and 424

'The split splat style is more widely represented. 423 shows some of the country features of these rusbanke. This example was found in the Oudtshoorn district and the history given was that it had stood on the stoep for many years and had belonged to the family for three or four generations. It is heavy, has none of the elegant proportions of a town piece, and is unusual in that it has four pairs of legs joined at the top. The small diamond carved out of the arms is unusual in Cape furniture. At the back of the rusbank the date '1800' has been stamped into the stinkwood in two places (424)' page 125. CapeRusbankStinkwood