Old Boy and his Dad saved rare tiles from Old Tsessebe House

Jeppe Old Boy, Mark Thomas grew up in Friedenheim (Old Tsessebe House).  His father Mr. D. Thomas was a past Deputy Principal and past Head of Tsessebe House.  

When Friedenheim was demolised in the early 1960's  Mark and his Dad managed to save 2 of the Dutch tiles that were used to decorate this opulent house. Mr Tait recently met up with Mark as he graciously donated the beautiful hand-painted tiles to the School.

These weren't just any tiles, they were hand-painted over 200 years old when they were used to decorate Friedenheim which could make them well over 300, almost 400 year's old.

Snippet from old "School Magazine, December 1962:

MEMORIES OF OLD TSESSEBE

"Eheu fugaces, postumi, postumi"

– Death is Inevitable –

DECEMBER, 1962-NO. 94 13

Memories of Old Tsessebe

Jeppe High School has lost one of the most colourful and historic aspects of its past.

In a few brief weeks "Old Tsessebe", with an atmosphere  that took almost, seven

decades to acquire, has been razed to the ground.  Built in 1896, "Old Tsessebe"

boasted thirty-seven rooms. There were oak -panelled studies and drawing rooms,

floors of inlaid teak and oak, a billiard room, winding staircases and walls embellished

with Dutch tiles over two hundred years old."

Above:  2 original Antique Dutch faience Mid 17th Century Polychrome Delft Tiles that once embellished the walls of Friedenheim (Old Tsessebe House).  Manufactured in the city of Delft, Holland, circa 1650.  Decorated in colours with a Tulip in a blue diamond.  Fleur-de-Lis derivatives corner motives.  Size:  13 x 13 cm (5.1 inches), Thickness:  1.2 cm thick (0.5 inches), Weight:  354 grams. 

The History of Delft Tiles

“With more than 400 years of rich history, delft tiles were first made in the early to mid-17th century in the city of Delft, Netherlands. After the invention of delft pottery, artisans used the same process of tin-glazed earthenware to create tiles adorned with personalized depictions, factory marks, and monograms.

The Delft potters also made tiles in vast numbers (estimated at eight hundred million over a period of two hundred years); many Dutch houses still have tiles that were fixed in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Although most tiles are said to be Delft, they were also produced in other towns like Amsterdam, Gouda, Makkum, Middelburg, Utrecht, Harlington etc.

Date: 1630-1650"

When I searched an image of the tiles with "Google Lens", it found a stately home "Winterthur" in America with similar tiles.  It was only built in 1928 but the owner created rooms from the furnishings of homes from the 1600's.

Below:  Delft fireplace tiles at "Winterhur" being restored. The tiles are an exact match to the ones from "Friedenheim".

Dutch Tin Glazed Tiles Circa 1650-1790. http://www.jackfieldconservation.co.uk/18th-century-delft-tiles/

Below, I also found various sites where these tiles are being sold.  They are very rare and collectible.  On one site a similar tile is sold for R2000-00.  Imagine if they saved these tiles on demolition day, they would be worth a small fortune today!

Description: A very rare antique polychrome Dutch Delft Tile circa 1630-1650 Ref. CL-19
Maker: Dutch faience polychrome wall tile. Although most tiles are said to be Delft, they were also produced in other towns like Amsterdam, Gouda, Makkum, Middelburg, Utrecht, Harlington etc.
Date: 1630-1650
History: Faience is a French word depicting tin-glazed earthenware. The name Delft comes from the City of Delft which was famous for its blue and white earthenware and slightly later, its Polychrome earthenware(pieces showing different colours). The blue colouring was first used as the colour did not fade when the earthenware was heated in the kilns. These Delft tiles as well as other earthenware goods were very popular and exported widely throughout Europe and Britain. The Netherlands, at this time, was known for its prosperity and tiles were virtually only found in homes of wealth. The serrated rhombic border surrounding the tulip flower was introduced in the 1630s (and, again used in the 1750s) as well as the corner motif showing the modified French Lily design. The pattern on the tile was first drawn on paper and then pricked with tiny holes. This was laid onto the surface of the tile and held in position by small nails. Take note of the three nail holes in the corner motifs. Powdered charcoal was spread on top of the paper, which, when removed, allowed the painter to see a faint outline of the subject to be painted. Note the thickness of the tile, early Dutch tiles were rather thick and heavy.
Condition: For its age, the tile remains in very good condition.
Dimensions: 13 cm x 13 cm x 1.1 cm 
Price: R2000.00

 Please note, I am NOT a qualified archaeologist/antiquarian and the description I have given is based on research of the subject.
This is a genuine antique. Please remember the classification of an 'antique' is that it should be 100 years old, OR MORE. 
Terms: We offer a strict three-day approval period from the date the parcel reaches you. Refunds/credits are based on the cost of the article, NOT including delivery charges. Please advise us within this period whether you would like to return any article for a refund/credit. Although we pride ourselves in our packing, the buyer remains responsible for loss, non-arrival or damage to goods being sent to, or returned.

No Mark, you can't have them back!😁

Sources:

Dutch Floral Tiles in the Golden Age (Ella B. Schaap, page 128 fig. 68).  Nederlandse Tegels (by I.D. van Dam page 69 fig. 77).

https://www.hartantiques.com/Dutch-Delftware/Tiles/Original-Antique-Dutch-Mid-17th-Century-Polychrome-Delft-Tile.-SOLD

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin-glazed_pottery

https://cider12.com/2013/02/28/bathroom-dado-tiles/

https://vivaciousvictorian.com/2016/12/27/victorian-bathrooms-a-history-lesson/

https://madelineghagerman.weebly.com/weird-tile-wednesday/england-trip-part-2

https://www.bobshop.co.za/description-a-very-rare-antique-polychrome-dutch-delft-tile-circa-1630-1650-ref-cl-19/p/606822979

Indiana Jeans and Mmathabo at Museum Africa

I have been searching for the original house plans of Sir Julius Jeppe's once opulent mansion Friedenheim.  I am happy to say I found them!  

My friend and colleague Mmathabo Nwangwu accompanied me to Museum Africa.  We met a wonderful gentleman named Kenneth Hlungwane who assisted us, he was very kind and helpful.  

 There were many plans!

 

Mmathabs snapped a few photo's of me having a whale of a time paging through the precious vellum documents.  My daughter says I look like "Indiana Jones"!😊

They don't draw plans like they used to.  These are very beautiful and truly works of art.

I even found a photograph of Belgravia from a time gone by.  Before the Scottish Horse Memorial.  Sir Julius Jeppe's "Friedenheim" in the distance and the little Summer House on the Koppie.

Mmathabs, thank you for being my "Robin"!

From the Archive - Some Familiar Faces

On a recent visit to the archive, I found some familiar Jeppe Boys and Girl currently teaching at Jeppe High School for Boys in 2024.

Do you know who they are? Shucks I hope it's them!

2007

2005

2008

2005

2004

2005

2004

Prince Mhlanga

Lydon Smit

Casey Arnold

Ryan Odendaal

Kirsten MacDonald (McCann)

Athletics Photograph from the Archive

 

Found on the Folly - Interesting Jeppe History - Mysterious object, help me find out what it is?

Interesting object found on the Folly.  It is attracted by a magnet and very rusted.  Measures 10.5 cm x 6 cm.

I am stumped!  It reminds me of a winding key for an old clock.  In this case a gigantic clock ... or the little gadget used to open a sardine tin .......... a giant sized one!!

Any ideas?  Please help me identify the object?

Unidentified Object found on Collard's Folly

Old Photograph - Jeppe High School for Boys - View of School Building, Playing Field and War Memorial Cricket Stands

 

The Jeppe High School for Boys "Koppie" - A Stone Age Site

Two years ago I noticed stones on the "Koppie" that looked like they were modified.  I asked a Professor  to have a look at photographs of the tools and of the "Koppie" (I sent her a Power Point presentation with 600 slides😊).  This was her response:

Dear Jean,

Thank you for the PowerPoint, it was really interesting to follow your thoughts.

First, as I said over the phone, hominins and humans have been on the Gauteng landscape for more than 2 million years leaving aspects of their material culture. It is therefore not surprising to see such evidence anywhere in Gauteng, or in Southern Africa.

1. From some of the stone tool images (some are real tools, but some are just broken rocks) it is clear that Thabana Koppie was used between about 500 000 and 50 000 years ago by Stone Age populations. First probably Homo Heidelbergensis during the Earlier Stone Age, and then since about 300 000 years ago Homo sapiens hunter-gatherers during the Middle Stone Age.
2. None of the bona fide tools have human-made images carved or painted on them, even though some might see such images in the staining or shapes of the rocks.
3. On slide 422 you show a parallel row of stones, which is human made. This may be the remnants of an Iron Age kraal that could date to between 1000 and 200 years ago. Alternatively it could be historical, i.e., built by people of European decent as a foundation for a home or kraal.
4. Some of the ‘cement’ images look like deteriorating quartzite, and others are clearly modern cement/concrete, which is to be expected in an area surrounded by urban building activities.

I hope this helps to clarify things somewhat.

I understand that you are anxious about the koppie being ‘lost’, but it has been used by humans for hundreds of thousands of years. Nothing of what I see is unusual compared to what we see or know about the use of the Gauteng landscape throughout the millennia.

But, of course you are welcome to contact any other specialists that you may think can help your dilemma.

With best regards,

Marlize  

 

 

Prof Marlize Lombard
Research Chair
Palaeo-Research Institute

 

Most fossils now known as Homo heidelbergensis were previously known as either Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis or 'archaic' Homo sapiens.

These amazing ancient people were actually living where the school is built now and they left behind their tools and their art.

Sources:

https://australian.museum/learn/science/human-evolution/homo-heidelbergensis/#:~:text=Most%20fossils%20now%20known%20as,or%20'archaic'%20Homo%20sapiens.