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Rethinking The William Fehr Collection

Iziko Museums of Cape Town

Official source

Source domain: iziko.org.za

Collected on 13 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This document is a web page text from Iziko Museums of South Africa titled “Rethinking the William Fehr Collection.” It describes Dr William Fehr’s historical art and decorative object collection, which was first publicly displayed at the Castle in 1952 and has not been expanded since Fehr’s death in 1968. The page explains that the current display is intended as a “work in progress” to critically reinterpret and redisplay the archive for contemporary viewers, encouraging public discussion and providing contact details for comments. It also provides extensive contextual information about colonial history, enslaved people’s roles in domestic life, and the history and governance of the Castle of Good Hope, including that the Castle is presently managed by the Castle Control Board under the Department of Defence.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

public feedback channelOngoing

Share opinions about the ‘work in progress’

Members of the public can give feedback on the exhibition and its reinterpretation either in the comments book or by emailing Iziko.

Who it is for
members of the public and viewers of the collection
How to act on it
Write opinions in the comments book or email info@iziko.org.za.
Show the line this came from
You are welcome to share opinions about this ‘work in progress’ with us in the comments book, or via info@iziko.org.za.
museum exhibition viewingOngoing

Rethinking the William Fehr Collection

The current display makes the William Fehr Collection available for contemporary viewers to examine and consider through a critical reinterpretation of its colonial histories and multiple narratives.

Who it is for
contemporary viewers and members of the public
How to act on it
Visit and view the works on exhibition; the page does not state booking or admission steps.
Show the line this came from
The current display is presented as the beginning of a process to radically reinterpret and redisplay this important historical archive for contemporary viewers.

Who can apply

What matters before you act: the conditions this listing sets, as Govermate read them.

Share opinions about the ‘work in progress’

The document sets no condition.

Rethinking the William Fehr Collection

The document sets no condition.

Where: viewers able to visit the display at the Castle · Castle

Facts

Places

City of Cape Town, Western Cape

Key Takeaways

  • Title: Rethinking the William Fehr Collection
  • Dr William Fehr (1892–1968) Cape Town-based collector of historical art and objects
  • First public display at the Castle: 1952
  • Fehr Collection is a closed collection (no new works added since 1968)
  • Current display described as beginning of a process to radically reinterpret and redisplay the archive
  • Public encouraged to share opinions via comments book or email info@iziko.org.za
  • Collection managed by Iziko Museums of South Africa and listed as a declared heritage collection with SAHRA
  • Texts developed in 2017 by Esther Esmyol, Curator of the William Fehr Collection
  • Castle of Good Hope: oldest existing building in South Africa; built on San and Khoekhoe ancestral land
  • Castle presently managed by Castle Control Board under the auspices of the Department of Defence
  • Media enquiries contact: Zikhona Jafta (+27(0)21 481 3862) and mediaofficer@iziko.org.za
  • Iziko Museums of South Africa
  • Dr William Fehr
  • Esther Esmyol
  • South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)
  • Castle of Good Hope
  • Castle Control Board
  • Department of Defence
  • Jan van Riebeeck
  • Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC)
  • Council of Policy
  • Council of Justice
  • John Berger
  • Nigel Pamplin
  • Zikhona Jafta
  • Sir Charles D’Oyly
  • HC de Meillon
  • John F Comfield
  • William Howard Schröder
  • Thomas William Bowler