Laat-Victoriaanse invloed op die interieurinrigting van twee van Bloemfontein se bekendste wonings, 1880-1900

The Victorian style period or era is named after Queen Victoria, who was on the British throne from 1837 to 1901. This style also influenced other countries, for example South Africa. The Victorian era is usually divided into the Early Victorian, Mid Victorian and Late Victorian periods, each with its own characteristics and style trends. This article investigates the style trends of the Late Victorian period, (c. 1870-1901) with the aim to determine the influence of the Victorian style on domestic interiors in Bloemfontein during the years 1880 to 1900. To this purpose photographs of the interiors of two well-known homes in Bloemfontein during the above-mentioned period are analysed. Although only a few photographs of interiors from this period could be found, these allow the researcher to form an idea of the appearance of domestic interiors in Bloemfontein during 1880 to 1900. The interior decorating and furnishing in Bloemfontein until 1900 was still strongly dominated by Late Victorian trends, although the influence and change to the Edwardian style trends became gradually evident. In Bloemfontein the years between 1890 and 1900 formed a transitional period between the Late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Die Victoriaanse styltydperk is vernoem na koningin Victoria, wat van 1837 tot 1901 op die Britse troon was. Dié styl het ook in ander wêrelddele, soos Suid-Afrika, 'n groot invloed gehad. Dié stylperiode word in drie subtydperke onderverdeel, naamlik Vroeg-Victoriaans, Middel-Victoriaans en Laat-Victoriaans, elkeen met sy eie kenmerke. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die stylkenmerke van die Laat-Victoriaanse periode (ca. 1870-1901) om te probeer vasstel in watter mate dit die interieur-inrigting van wonings in Bloemfontein gedurende 1880-1900 beïnvloed het. Met dié doel is interieurfoto's van twee van die bekendste wonings in Bloemfontein uit daardie tydperk ontleed. Ofskoon min foto's van interieurs uit die betrokke tydperk behoue gebly het, gee enkele foto's wat wel opgespoor kon word, aan die navorser 'n goeie idee van hoe wonings van 1880 tot 1900 in Bloemfontein ingerig is. Interieur-inrigting in Bloemfontein tot ongeveer 1900 het nog grotendeels kenmerke van die Laat-Victoriaanse styl vertoon, terwyl die invloed van die Eduardiaanse tydperk geleidelik sigbaar begin word het. In Bloemfontein was die jare tussen 1890 en 1900 dus 'n oorgangstydperk tussen die Laat-Victoriaanse en Eduardiaanse stylperiodes. (SA J Cultural History: 2003 17(1): 115-140