Interpretasiemoontlikhede van name en datums op Ou–Kaapse meubels

Abstract

During an extensive investigation project on Old Cape furniture names and dates on furniture led to several questions about their significance. Owners, collectors and even dealers often make the wrong conclusions about inscriptions on furniture. An extensive knowledge of furniture styles is a requirement to come to valid conclusions. It is also necessary to undertake genealogical research to obtain more information on the names. In the absence of church pews, members of a congregation carried their own chairs to church services and often left them there. For that purpose the chairs were identified by the names of the owners and the birth dates of the women that often appeared on the back rests of the chairs. It could, however, not be assumed that the piece was necessarily a “kerkstoel” when it was marked with a name or a date. Each piece of furniture with an inscription should be investigated thoroughly before findings about them are made known