Carved Stone Frieze, Old Mutual Bulding, Cape Town, South Africa
S 33° 55.457 E 018° 25.337
34H E 261711 N 6243246
This impressive frieze is located on the historic "Old Mutual Building" in Cape Town, South Africa.
Waymark Code: WMJ5X6
Location: Western Cape, South Africa
Date Posted: 09/29/2013
Views: 4
This impressive frieze is one of the longest carved stone friezes on the world is located on the exterior of The Mutual Building in Cape Town, South Africa. The 386 feet frieze encompasses 3 sides of the building. The building was completed in 1939 and has earned numerous accolades for originality.
The individual friezes are listed below:
Defence of Fort Jesus depicting Arab inhabitants
Landing of Jan van Riebeeck
Opening up of Tanganyika Territory
David Livingstone healing, preaching, freeing slaves
Arrival of the 1820 Settlers
Rhodes and the Matabele
The Great Trek
The "Post Office Stone"
Bartholomew Dias erecting a cross
Building of the Castle of Good Hope
Emancipation of the slaves
Discovery of diamonds near Kimberley
The dream of Nongqawuse
Negotiations with King Shaka
This impressive building first opened in 1940 and was created as the headquarters of the South African Mutual Life Assurance Society, (now called the "Old Mutual" insurance and financial services company), in the art deco architecture style, and includes ziggurat-style design and decoration, innovative use of pismoid (triangular) windows which allow light to enter the building more effectively than regualar windows, as well as extravagant use of interior wooden stickwood frieze, exterior carved stone frieze, granite cladding, crests, etchings, fresco panels, and carved granite tribal figures. The company had moved it's business offices north east of the center of Cape Town to Pinelands before the 1950s.
Check out the link below for full information on this incredible buildikng, including extensive photos:
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