Social History Collections Tour

A rare opportunity to see inside the Iziko national museum’s storage facilities in Church Square, central Cape Town. There are many 1 ooo’s of objects here. We’ll be focusing on indigenous cultural material from southern Africa – basketry, ornaments and in particular ceramics.

Our host is Esther Esmyol, one of five Iziko museums curators based here (she led the William Fehr Culture Connect in June).  Esther’s specialty is ceramics. After studying History at Stellenobosch University, Esther started working in 1986 in Social History when it was based in the current Slave Lodge (her post grad in museology was also at Stellenbosch University).

Our visit starts with a brief introduction about the building and collection in the library on the ground floor. Esther will then take us to the three storage areas: southern African ceramics, material culture (eg baskets, ornaments and sculptural objects) and European and Asian ceramics.

The Social History Centre is in the former National Mutual Building, the first section was designed by Francis Masey and Herbert Baker and in 1905. It is as impressive as it is elusive.

We’ll see inside drawers, cupboards and small displays. From Ardmore Ceramics to ancient Egyptian pots.

Only ten people.

Friday, 15 September, 10am till noon.

Cost: R350 pp or R260 before 31 August

To book and payment details: kate@cultureconnectsa.com +27 72 377 8014