Written in Gold: The Craft Behind Johannesburg’s School Honours Boards

The signwriters, gold leaf and traditions behind the names on our school walls

When gold was discovered on the Witwatersrand in 1886, Johannesburg grew rapidly, and schools soon became an important part of the developing city. Many established traditions influenced by the English public-school system, where academic achievement, leadership, sport and school pride were celebrated and remembered.

Among the schools that grew alongside Johannesburg were Jeppe High School for Boys, Jeppe High School for Girls, Jeppe Preparatory School, King Edward VII School, Parktown Boys’ High School and St John’s College. Their halls, historic buildings and honours boards reflect a tradition of recognising achievement and preserving school history. The architectural character of these institutions was shaped by several architects and the wider architectural traditions of the period. At Jeppe Boys, the historic stone buildings are associated with John Ralston and the Transvaal Public Works Department.

The beauty of wood and gold

Honours boards were often made from attractive hardwoods or veneers, including mahogany, walnut and oak, depending on the period and design. Against these rich backgrounds, gold lettering stood out beautifully. Genuine gold leaf, sometimes 22 or 23 carat, gave the names a distinctive warmth and permanence. In a city built on gold, its use carried a special significance, both practical and symbolic.

A craftsman’s skill

Before modern printing and computer-cut lettering, signwriters relied on experience to create neat, evenly spaced lettering by hand. Applying gold leaf required particular skill and careful timing.

One traditional term is “Whistling Tack”. This describes the stage when the adhesive used for gilding becomes tacky enough to receive the gold leaf. Timing is essential to achieve a good result.

Another technique is the “drop shadow”, where a second line or colour is placed slightly to one side of the main lettering. This creates an impression of depth, making the letters appear to stand out from the board.

A moment in Jeppe history

The photograph from the Jeppe High School for Boys archive, showing a signwriter adding the Head Boy’s name for 2005, offers a glimpse of this skilled work in practice.

Photograph: Jeppe High School for Boys archive - a signwriter adding the Head Boy’s name for 2005.

Today, the names on these boards remain visible long after the pupils have left school. They preserve a record of achievement, but they also remind us of the craftspeople whose patience and skill helped create these lasting traditions. Their names may not appear on the boards, but their work remains part of the story.

References

Jeppe High School for Boys. “History.” Jeppe High School for Boys. https://jeppeboys.wordpress.com/history/. Accessed 14 October 2026.

Jeppe High School for Girls. “About Us.” Jeppe High School for Girls. https://jeppegirls.co.za/about-us/. Accessed 14 October 2026.

Artefacts. “Jeppestown High School for Boys.” Artefacts: South African Architectural Heritage. https://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldgframes.php?bldgid=3826. Accessed 14 October 2026.

King Edward VII School. “About Us.” King Edward VII School. https://kes.co.za/about-us.html. Accessed 14 October 2026.

St John’s College. “History of St John’s.” St John’s College, Johannesburg. https://www.stjohnscollege.co.za/about/history-of-st-johns. Accessed 14 October 2026.

Honours Boards South Africa. “About Us.” Honours Boards South Africa. https://honoursboards.co.za/about-us/. Accessed 14 October 2026.

PaintnSign. “Gold Leaf Lettering on Honour Boards and Antiques.” Gold Leaf Gilding by PaintnSign. https://www.goldleafgilding.com.au/gold-and-metal-leaf-applications/gold-leaf-lettering-on-honour-boards-and-antiques/. Accessed 14 October 2026.

Honours Boards South Africa. “Custom Boards #47 — Jeppe High School for Boys.” Honours Boards South Africa. https://honoursboards.co.za/product/custom-boards-47/. Accessed 14 October 2026.

Honours Boards South Africa. “Services.” Honours Boards South Africa. https://honoursboards.co.za/services/. Accessed 14 October 2026.

The Mine Dump Is Gone, but the Hill Remains -A view of the Koppie at Jeppe High School for Boys

 

I love comparing these two photographs. They capture more than just the passing of time, they reveal the contrast between the temporary nature of human industry and the enduring presence of the little koppie. While the mine dump has disappeared from the landscape, the hill remains, quietly witnessing the changing history around it.

If you have an interesting story, memory, photograph, or piece of history about the koppie at Jeppe High School for Boys, I'd love to hear from you. Please get in touch, as I'm currently writing a book about this remarkable little hill, and your contribution could help preserve another part of its story.

Above:  Photo from the Jeppe Boys School Archive, possibly taken during the 1980's

Above:  Photo taken by Jean Meintjes from the school building, 23 July 2026

Interesting Jeppe History - Folly & Famous Frames: A Victorian Spectacle Surprise!

I went off on a little adventure today - a spontaneous wander up to the Folly. Sometimes the best discoveries happen when you’re not really looking for them.

Since Victorian times, municipal refuse was dumped along the sloping eastern edge of the “B” rugby field. By 1950, the area had been covered with grass. It was, however, too small for proper games use and soon earned the nickname “Collard’s Folly.”

Every now and then - especially after a heavy Highveld downpour - the earth shifts and Jeppe quietly reveals fragments of its Victorian past. And as they say, one person’s rubbish is another person’s treasure.

Today, I found treasure.

Half-hidden in the soil were two circular glass discs, framed in metal, complete with tiny hinges. My first thought? Some kind of antique locket. But a closer look revealed that the glass was flat. Out came my trusty companion, Google Lens - and mystery solved.

They were lenses from a Victorian pair of spectacles, dating back to around the 1880s.

Two very famous people rocked this style of eye-wear.  Gandhi was one of them.

Here’s where the story becomes even more intriguing. Gandhi lived in Johannesburg for twelve formative years, and one of his homes stands just a stone’s throw from the school. The thought alone is enough to set the imagination racing. 

Snippet below is from The Heritage Portal

https://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/gandhis-house-sale-sold-2009

Can you imagine if this very pair had once belonged to him? We’d all be rich, I tell you!

In fact, a pair of Gandhi’s glasses sold at East Bristol Auctions in August 2020 for a staggering $415,000. Not bad for something that helps you see clearly.

https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/gandhis-glasses-bring-eye-popping-price/

Granted, my Folly find needs a little restoration - and perhaps a generous dose of imagination - but what a remarkable reminder that history lies just beneath our feet.

Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of rain… and a curious eye.

Sources:

Jeppe High School for Boys Magazine (1943-1962)

https://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/gandhis-house-sale-sold-2009

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor_glasses#/media/File:Lunettes_de_Gandhi-National_Gandhi_Museum_(2).jpg

https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/gandhis-glasses-bring-eye-popping-price/

Jeppe Valentine's Celebrations, 13 February 2004 - 22 years ago TODAY!

 

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated annually on February 14.  It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world, including JEPPE!

Andre Grobler, Sue Muller, Paulette Preyser and Eva Odendaal

Rose Acton and her big Heart and John Brodrick.  Some lovely ''eats"!

Steve Hodge, Dudley Wallendorf, Rose Acton and Sharon Doubell

Happy Jeppe Valentine's 2026,
 Hope you get struck by Love, not Lighting!

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day#:~:text=Valentine's%20Day%2C%20also%20called%20Saint,many%20regions%20of%20the%20world.

Jeppe High School for Boys Photo Archive

Old Photograph - Jeppe High School for Boys - Swimming Bath 1941

Eighty-five years ago the swimming bath at Jeppe High School for Boys glissened in the sun.  

Historically, swimming pools were often called “swimming baths” because they evolved from public bathhouses built for hygiene rather than leisure (very fittingly located near many school hostels😁).

The site where this "bath"once stood is currently used as a ruby practice field, soon to be replaced by a "High Performance Centre"............ how the spaces at JHSB constantly change!

Photo credit: J. Church

Sources:

History of Pools: From Ancient Baths to Modern Backyard Oasis

https://beechmountpools.com/2025/05/06/history-of-pools-from-ancient-baths-to-modern-backyard-oasis/#:~:text=The%20earliest%20known%20pools%20date,purposes%2C%20emphasizing%20cleanliness%20and%20purification.

Jeppe High School for Boys Magazine 1941

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/4C3B864BE0DDF1AF2437319219FBD81C/S096392682100047Xa.pdf/municipal-modernity-the-politics-of-leisure-and-johannesburgs-swimming-baths-1920s-to-1930s.pdf

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"!