Box for "buchu"
Gerda Wilhelmine Emilie Kloppe, (1919 Windhoek, Namibia - 1994 Swinemünde-Harzgerode, Germany)
Reinhold Kloppe (born 1882 in Harzgerode) was a government official in Brakwater, a district Windhoek. Exactly when the family returned to Germany and if it was by the end of German colonial rule or later, is not documented. We only have a certified translation of the birth certificate from 1942 of his daughter Gerda Wilhelmine Emilie Kloppe, who was born in 1919 in Windhoek, during the time that German Southwest was under a South African mandate. When the family returned to Germany, they brought presents from the Nama and Ovambo in their luggage with them.
Description
turtle shell, back opening closed with Sarcocaulon resin, broad band of polychrome bead netting attached to lower rim, leather strips with threaded beads at the same place, leather loop for attachment, slightly dam., beaded loops seaming the bead netting missing in parts;
the “buchu” box was permanent part of women clothing. It was worn at a strap around the hips together with other small bags and containers. It served for keeping “buchu”, an aromatic powder made from the “buchu” leaves which was used for regularly rubbing the body and the face.
Remarques
This object is subject to CITES. Please note that it can only be sent within the European Union. At the present time export in third countries is prohibited, respectively, export licenses in third countries for objects containing or made of protected materials are only granted under stringent conditions.