Cape Dutch comeback
July 06, 2005 Edition 1
One of the most spectacular restoration projects is that undertaken at the Vergelegen wine estate. Mary Armour talks to the team behind the scenes
The story of Vergelegen begins with the riddle of two competing versions of the estate. On the first day of the 18th century, the property Vergelegen, or "far-lying", was granted to the governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Willem Adriaan van der Stel.
The homestead built was magnificent: a double-H gabled homestead facing south-west over an orangery.
There were two entrance courts, a watermill and a slave lodge, a pigeon house and a tannery as well as a wine cellar.
The grounds had been laid out in similarly grand style with a plantation of camphor trees to frame a wide avenue.
Vineyards of half-a-million vines covered 61 acres (25ha).
There were orchards of figs, chestnuts, almonds, walnuts and pomegranates.
Two sketches of Vergelegen exist, one implausibly modest and the other intended to show Van der Stel's profligacy.
Outraged burghers complained of nepotism to the Dutch East India Company and both versions were put to the test.
The burghers won and Van der Stel was exiled to the Netherlands.
Vergelegen came to be known as Theunissen's farm, prosperous but undistinguished. But its revival came when, in 1917, the property was purchased by Sir Lionel Phillips for his wife Florence, who spent vast sums on the restoration of the old homestead, library and gardens.
The estate was acquired by Charles "Punch" Barlow and his wife Cynthia in June 1941. Anglo American Farms purchased Vergelegen in October 1987 and a new restoration project began ...
Hank Lith: landscape consultant
Hank Lith, the landscape consultant on the board of trustees for Vergelegen, said: "In 1988 I joined what is now the Vergelegen Cape Cultural Trust, working from my field in landscape architecture. Our brief was to respect and enhance the periods and what had been planted.
"We would need to accommodate the public and create new areas, notably the Octagonal Rose Garden in what had been a tennis court. There's still much to be done, including the creation of a new Camellia Walk, a new Yellowwood Walk across the Lourens River and the opening up of a now-derelict pond garden."
Sandy Overstone: gardens consultant
Sandy Ovenstone, consultant on the gardens of Vergelegen: "It has been exciting to work on such a challenging project, together with such gifted people as Hank Lith, the late Ian Ford and Deon Bronkhorst, among others."
"You need to be very disciplined when approaching the recreation of period gardens and balance the Edwardian flamboyance of a Lady Phillips with modern tastes and constraints relating to water and what the public finds most appealing."
"The Edwardians were fonder of massed annuals in pale colours, and many visitors prefer the brighter colours, even in the rose garden. We needed waterwise perennials and planting that would allow the garden to be on show all year round."
Hayden Proud: curator of historical collections
Hayden Proud, curator of historical collections of paintings and sculpture for the SA National Gallery, said: "The opportunity of showing collections such as the Michaelis Collection of 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings at Vergelegen, with its Randlord associations, was irresistible."
"In selecting and placing artworks, we worked as a team."
"We didn't opt for a separate 'Willem Adriaan van der Stel room' or a 'Victorian room' or a 'Lady Phillips room'."
"There is a creative interplay between all periods."
"Particularly striking artworks are the portraits of Lady Florence Phillips by Giovanni Boldini and Sir William Nicholson."
"Artworks range from 17th century Dutch paintings to early 20th century works reflecting the "Dutch revival" in the Cape."
"It was stimulating to use the gallery's collection in a fresh way."
"History need not be dead or irrelevant."
"To breathe and imagine the atmosphere of the past teaches us much about past realities and shapes those of the present."
Deon Viljoen: manager of Vergelen
Deon Viljoen is involved in managing the collections at Vergelegen.
"My participation in the refurbishment started in 1999," he said.
"The brief was to investigate ways in which the manor house could be furnished to create an authentic historical milieu for both tourists and VIP guests, a venue for prestigious functions, and a tool for marketing Vergelegen wines, without creating a museum."
"Although histories of Vergelegen tend to emphasise two previous owners - Van der Stel and Lady Florence Phillips - we suggested a 'layered historicism', reflecting 300 years of Cape cultural history."
"An important objective was to show the various cultural influences that shaped Cape history. Over the past five years a collection of antiques and works of art has been put together reflecting a Dutch, French, British, Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian heritage."
"The interior today has pieces that could have been present in the homestead during Van der Stel's time, or the Theunissens' time, the Phillips's time, or the Barlows' time."
"Anglo American Farms owned a number of fine European, Cape and East Indies antique pieces which now form focus points in the main reception rooms"
"The process ... was successful, because we never compromised on the need to be authentic and relevant. We never filled a gap with temporary exhibits - if a gap existed anywhere it stayed that way until we had found the right piece."
