Archived

Arresting 18th century Cape Buffet, a welcome surprise for collectors

10 Sep 2009

Unrecorded in any literature this fine and rare piece has been in the same family for six generations and was inherited by the current owner in 1968. It is reputed to be one of a pair owned by Baron Joachim von Plettenberg who was Governor of the Cape from 1771-1785, and was presented by him as a wedding gift to Johan Sebastian Leibbrandt who served with the Dutch East India Company and later became a baker in Cape Town. The rareness of the timber and the solid Cape silver mounts by a leading Cape silversmith attest to the sophistication and very fine quality of this buffet.

Caption:
Lot 189
A highly important Cape coromandel and silver-mounted buffet, mid 18th century
the rectangular top with serpentine front above a pair of fielded panelled doors enclosing a
drawer, flanked by four drawers and a deep drawer, each side with a slide and a loper, on leaf-carved scroll feet, the apron carved with foliage, c-scrolls and rocaille, the silver mounts and escutcheon plates fully marked Johannes Casparus Lotter, 78,5cm high, 130cm wide, 63cm deep
R550 000 – 650 000

Furniture specialist:
Vanessa Phillips (vanessa@straussart.co.za)

Press enquiries and images
Bina Genovese
bina@straussart.co.za
083 680 9944
087 806 8780