Introduction
This exhibit presents for the first time several selected cultural items from the Prynnsberg Estate. Prynnsberg is a grand Estate built in 1884 near Lesotho Southern AFRICA by Charles Newberry (1841-1922), Newberry arrived in Southern Africa in 1864 and quickly became one of South Africa's wealthiest people, becoming a major shareholder in DeBeer diamonds, and serving as a director for many years. Prynnsberg was the major homestead in the area, where Newberry entertained international dignitaries and local chiefs. From the period of approximately 1884 to 1900, Newberry collected local cultural items that he housed in his private museum. These items, along with all the contents of Prynnsberg, remained undisturbed until 1994, when his heirs broke a four generation trust and will that allowed them to sell the entire contents at a well celebrated auction in the fall of 1996. The three hundred plus South African cultural items were sold in its entirety to Ed Smith and shipped to San Diego prior to auction.
The Prynnsberg collection offers many rare and important examples of cultural items, along with. many other outstanding items collected by Ed Smith, Mina Wilkie and Gerald Block. A large amount of the exhibit's items are 19th century, including arguably the world's finest Nguni/zulu sculpture featured on the front and back cover, With these excellent., examples, this exhibit offers visitors a chance to see how primitive yet elegant the Southern Bantu people lived.
The classification of Southern African art is not so easy, since museums and private collections were poorly documented during the 19th century. Where specific tribal knowledge is known, we have included it. The materials in the exhibit reflect collector's interests and the availability of cultural items. The exhibit's contents are not intended to portray a comprehensive showing of all important cultural items. We hope we will inspire our visitors to seek out opportunities to see other Southern African exhibits and come to appreciate, like we do, the dignity of the Southern Bantu.
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