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Gold
of Africa Museum
The
Gold of Africa Museum, located
in the historic Martin Melck House, is
dedicated to the history and artistry of African gold. The museum
contains the world-renowned collection of West African gold artefacts originally from the Barbier-Mueller Museum
in Geneva, as well as artefacts from the ancient gold civilisations of
southern Africa. Alongside
its permanent collection the museum showcases temporary exhibitions from
countries as diverse as India, Brazil, Mali and Egypt.
The
power and wealth of the gold-rich kingdoms of Africa is a little easier
to comprehend once the museum’s collection of exquisitely crafted
objects has been viewed. But the collection goes a step beyond the
aesthetic. The visitor takes away vital insights into the values of the
people who created these objects through the symbolism surrounding each
piece.
The
setting for the collection is in itself noteworthy. Painstakingly
restored in 2000, Martin Melck House, built in 1783, is believed to be
one of the finest remaining examples of old Cape Town domestic
architecture. Its beginnings also coincide with the rise of the Akan
kingdoms that created many of the objects within the museum’s
collection.
The
museum complex is home to a two hundred-year-old wine cellar that offers
quality wines to visitors who can order a bite to eat at the coffee shop
and relax in a tranquil garden courtyard.
A
state-of-the-art gold jewellery workshop is the scene of courses and
demonstrations. Here visitors can see local goldsmiths using South
African gold to design and manufacture exquisite pieces of jewellery.
Some of these pieces are sold in the museum shop that offers a
variety of exclusive gifts crafted by local workers. After basking in
the beauty of the gold collection, visitors may well wish to take a
little of its magic away with them. |
