NAVIGATION

Originally the Dutch East India Company envisaged the Southern tip of
Africa as 'a rendezvous and strong-hold'. A meeting place for the ships
engaged in the lucrative trade between the Netherlands and Batavia, and
a fort to protect it. By 1750 the Cape Colony comprised 47,000 people, over half of whom were
slaves. A distinctive colonial culture began to appear in local
architecture and furniture making. In 1806 when the British took over
the Cape, the area had already made a substantial contribution to the
cultural heritage of South Africa. This chair has been described as an officer's mess chair as, without
the left arm, it allowed the sitter in full dress uniform to wear a
sword, or more possibly it is a court martial chair so the accused
could be seated in full military attire. Stinkwood is particularly resilient to pests and is indigenous to South
Africa. The underside of the seat is made of rawhide straps, which was
a device used solely at the Cape.