Alone with Strangers - The Zimbabwe Bird at the Groote Schuur Estate in Cape Town, South Africa
In July 2014, I joined a guided tour of Groote Schuur, the residence of Cecil John Rhodes, who later bequeathed the property to the nation of South Africa. Our tour guide explained that the house was originally constructed around 1657 by the Dutch East India Company. Rhodes purchased it in 1893 for 10,000 British pounds, finding it in a state of disrepair. He commissioned architect Herbert Baker to restore the house. While the history, architecture, notable guests, and antique furnishings were captivating, my primary interest that day was seeing the original Zimbabwe soapstone bird. This culturally significant artifact, described by my fellow tour participant Kirsty Cockerill as "nicked" from the Great Zimbabwe ruins, holds great symbolic value. The Great Zimbabwe ruins, located in the city of Masvingo south of Harare, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for their impressive, mortarless dry stone walls and are considered one of the most significant archaeological sites in ...