Strauss & co - 8 October 2009, Cape Town

95 Properties of various owners 201 A Transvaal teak armchair, circa 1900 by James Smith, the yoke-shaped top-rail above a pierced splat, the arms carved with wave decoration and scroll terminals, riempie seat, on tapering square-section legs joined by reeded three-quarter stretchers R8 000 – 10 000 James Smith was born in Bradford, Yorkshire. Having moved to South Africa, he worked as a woodcutter and furniture maker in the Tzaneen area where he met Sir Lionel and Lady Phillips, who had a farm at nearby Woodbush. Florence Phillips, who was doing a great deal to promote arts and crafts projects in South Africa, introduced Smith to Sir Herbert Baker, with the idea that he make furniture after designs by Baker. Baker later employed James Smith for the woodwork and carvings of the Union Buildings. LITERATURE Deon Viljoen and Piér Rabe, Cape Furniture 1680 - 1900 , Cape Town 2002, no 17, where an identical pair are illustrated 202 A Cape yellowwood cupboard, 19th century the rectangular top with moulded edge above a pair of doors enclosing shelves, with stile feet, 168cm high, 162cmwide, 36cm deep R20 000 – 30 000 202 201