HEAD & DANIEL

They met on a boat. Gertie was travelling to Italy and Chummie to Germany. She was leaving home to train as an opera singer. The purpose of Chummie’s trip was to persuade his relatives to follow him to South Africa and escape the growing threat of the Nazis. Gertie and Chummie married in Johannesburg. He continued his work as an insurance broker while fundraising for the evacuation of Jews. In 1948 he travelled to the Congo in search of donations. This is where he bought the ebony head. At the age of forty he died. Daniel never met his grandfather and Gertie never re-married. But she has always been strong. A few weeks ago, at the age of 97, she renewed her driving license and just a year ago she had hip replacement surgery so she could continue practising yoga. Her grandson married in a small family ceremony in Johannesburg, this head was her wedding gift to Daniel and his new wife, Bethany.

21 Apr 2013