THE RESTORATION OF GROOT CONSTANTIA

38 pp., 4to., frontis., 17 b/w plates, pages slightly foxed, hardback, inner hinge between frontis. & title page separation, hardback, spine lettered in gilt, edges worn, Juta & Co. Ltd., Cape Town, No date 

Groot Constantia is one of South Africa’s most iconic heritage estates, originally established in 1685 by Simon van der Stel as a model wine farm under Dutch colonial rule. Beyond its role in winemaking, the estate is celebrated for its quintessential Cape Dutch architecture, particularly the gabled manor house that became a symbol of 18th-century colonial craftsmanship. Severely damaged by a fire in 1925, the house underwent a significant and carefully researched restoration, which sparked renewed interest in conservation practices in South Africa.