Most probably by far the largest collection of curiosity and antiques in the Overberg region in the Western Cape, South Africa, can be found in some barns in the ‘outback’ of Napier. Skilled craftsman Mike Pope has been collecting the items during his entire life. The private collection is NOT accessible for the general public.
When visiting him he apologizes himself for the mess. There are still rooms where parts of his collection are piled up, waiting for restoration. The barns and his house are stacked with surprises from floor to ceiling. It’s a different world out there and wandering through his collection I find it no surprise that there is an interest from diverse museums.
The age of the thousands of items goes back to far beyond the Boer War but there are also newer things like an electric grass cutter which, he says, will be a curiosity in a hundred years time …
Alan Raubenheimer is not the youngest but 90+ yrs or not; virtually every day you can find him in his workshop adjacent to his Toy Dockyard along the main road in Napier. It’s where he with painstaking precision makes his toys; mainly using hand tools. Next to his own creations visitors see a plethora of old toys Alan collected during the years.
An impression in 24 pictures:
Photos of Road Run Napier Patatfees 2017. Click on this link (opens in new window) and enjoy! Shared copyright 2017: Herman van Bon Photography and Southernmost foundation
