Strauss & co - 8 October 2012, Cape Town

76 225 A Cape silver covered jug, Martinus Lourens Smith, late 18th century the shoulder engraved with a band of acorns, flowerheads and scrolls, the hinged cover with gilt bud and foliate finial, with leaf-capped wooden handle, 275g all in, 16,5cm high R40 000 – 50 000 PROVENANCE Johannes Henoch Marais (1851-1915) Jannie Marias was born on the farm Coetzenberg, now the sports grounds of Stellenbosch University. He made his money by starting diamond delving operations on the Vaal River and Kimberley. After the consolidation of mining activities in Kimberley, he and his brothers eventually owned substantial interests in De Beers Consolidated Mines. He returned to Coetzenburg in 1892 and became an active politician and promoter of the Afrikaans language. He was instrumental in the formation of the Afrikaans newspaper, Die Burger. More famously he is known as the main initial benefactor of Stellenbosch University, to whom he bequeathed £100 000 and after whom JS Marais Square , or ‘Red Square’ is named. He was married to Elizabeth (Bessie) Deborah de Villiers, a sister of the current owner’s great grandfather, Senator Wilhelm Bruckner de Villiers. Having had no descendants, Jannie and Bessie bequeathed funds to various charitable organisations in Worcester and Cape Town. The Elizabeth Marais Bursary is still in existence at Stellenbosch University. LITERATURE cf. Stephan Welz, Cape Silver and Silversmiths, Balkema, Cape Town, 1976, page 75, where a similar example by Gerhardus Lotter is illustrated