A CAPE STINKWOOD, EBONY AND AMBOYNA ARMOIRE, LATE 18TH CENTU...

Estimate

R500,000 - R600,000

Hammer

R340,000

A CAPE STINKWOOD, EBONY AND AMBOYNA ARMOIRE, LATE 18TH CENTURY

More Information

LOCATION: CAPE TOWN

The gabled pediment centred by a keyblock carved with acanthus and trailing flowers above an Ionic column, a pair of panelled doors below enclosing three shelves and three short drawers, canted fluted corners, the lower section comprising three graduated long drawers, on scroll-carved feet
275cm high, 174cm wide, 76cm deep


PROVENANCE:
The Rococo Armoire destined for Rust en Vrede, Muizenberg – the “sumptuous” home of Sir Abe Bailey.

“One Cape Town project, commissioned in 1902, which Baker kept total control over was a new house for mining magnate Abe Bailey who had been a close associate of Rhodes. Bailey had acquired the site above the cottage in which Rhodes had died, looking out over False Bay, where Baker once hoped to build another Seaside house for Rhodes. “ (1)
Abe Bailey bought the site and built the “sparkling, rather sumptuous house “Rust en Vrede - to Baker’s original plan for Rhodes. Building commenced in 1902 and was completed in 1905.
Bailey deeply admired Rhodes, and the two became close friends. Baker noting of Bailey, that at Rust en Vrede he ‘… entertained with the same liberal and generous hospitality, as the friend in whose steps it has been the ambition of his life to follow” (2)
Naturally the furnishing of the new seaside mansion was given over to Baker, just as Rhodes had done with the furnishing of Groote Schuur in 1897 when it was rebuilt after a devastating fire.
Baker, working closely with Rhodes had developed a shared admiration for the simplicity and beautiful construction of old Cape furniture, the two amassing a vast collection of antiques for Groote Schuur.
Capitalising on the phylloxera epidemic that destroyed many Cape wine farms, forcing their owners to sell –up, they acquired splendid examples of 18th century armoires, rusbanke, tables, chairs, cabinets and bureaux that had once graced the vast proportions of Cape gabled farmhouses.
Evidence of a determined drive to collect is found both in the quantity and quality of the furniture - e.g. Groote Schuur has fourteen magnificent Baroque/ Rococo armoires - and recorded lists of antique Cape furniture bought from 1897 to 1902, until Rhodes’ death. (3)
E.R. Syfret’s was the executor of Rhodes’ estate through whom Bailey would have bought both the site and furniture that Baker had assembled for the proposed new Muizenberg house. The building of the Muizenberg mansion, begun in 1902 soon after Rhodes’s death and was completed in 1905.
It is interesting to correlate the time line of the beautifully scripted label affixed to rear of this armoire with these dates.

“1 w/Robe
Brought in from
Groote Schuur for A.Bailey
22/4/04”

This particular “wardrobe” destined for Abe Bailey’s new house in Muizenberg reflects the preferences of Rhodes and Baker in their choice of bombe armoires as illustrated by two similar pieces in the Music Room at Groote Schuur.(4)
Lot 1212 is imposing, in excellent original condition, surmounted by a spectacular open-pierced keystone embellishment resting upon the capital of a carved Ionic column, it displays contrasting, fielded panels in golden tones of lightly figured Amboyna wood surrounded by the darker patina of aged stinkwood. The handles are the original mid-18th century hand worked Cape brass - a detail that appealed to the collectors who valued the credo of the Arts and Crafts movement in vogue at the turn of the 20th century.
It appears likely that furniture acquired for the proposed Muizenberg house was stored at Groote Schuur in one of the outbuildings on the property, until 1904, when work on Rust en Vrede was sufficiently advanced to accommodate it.
Baker had recently designed and furnished The Woolsack as an artist’s retreat for the use of Rudyard Kipling in 1900. In all three properties designed and furnished by Baker (Groote Schuur, The Woolsack, Rust en Vrede) there is evidence - from photographs and the Groote Schuur archive - that the interior style included fine examples of Cape patrician Cape armoires and cabinets in both local and imported timber from the Indian Ocean World.
In 1900, Cecil Rhodes sent Herbert Baker on an
extensive buying trip to England, France, Italy, Greece and Cairo to gain Classical architectural inspiration and source treasures to supplement the furnishings for their domestic building projects. The items were shipped back to the Cape and unloaded at the Docks to be carted by horse carriage to Groote Schuur Estate in Rondebosch. (5)
Many of these items continue to grace the pristine and intact Groote Schuur Collection and define the Baker-Rhodes design style.
Abe Bailey was very happy at Rust and Vrede and he occupied the house until his death in 1940. His architect became a close friend and frequent visitor to Rust en Vrede, enjoying both the magnificence of his own creation and the generosity of his host.
A legacy of support and scholarships for South Africans from all backgrounds distinguished Abe Bailey at the end of his life in 1940. The magnificent collection of paintings and sporting art from his London home was bequeathed to the South African nation and held in trust by the South African National Gallery where it can still be seen and enjoyed.

1. Stewart, John. Sir Herbert Baker. Jonathan Ball, Johannesburg and Cape Town 2025, Pages 58-59
2. Baker, H. Cecil Rhodes by his architect. Oxford. OUP, 1937 , page 71
3. Recent research has brought to light details relating to the provenance of Groote Schuur’s antique collection.
4. Groote Schuur. Dept. of Information Republic of South Africa. Pretoria. 1970, pages 50- 51.
5. John Stewart. Sir Herbert Baker. Jonathan Ball, Johannesburg and Cape Town, 2025 page 43.
Additional information from the Groote Schuur Archive.



Acknowledgements
In researching the provenance for this armoire, the resources of Groote Schuur Manor House Museum have been crucial. For unstinting help and access, the staff are gratefully acknowledged.
Other esteemed professionals with direct and relevant engagement and knowledge of Abe Bailey’s estate, collections and life are most warmly thanked for their perceptive insights and sharing of valuable information. Finally to the great detective skills of archivists and librarians, thank you unreservedly for your many brilliant discoveries.

Carol Kaufmann
August 2025