A Magical Place 100 000 years ago in Africa, man began painting on the walls of caves and other shelters. Mystical scenes that leap and dance across the rock, telling an ancient, enchanted tale of gods and legends, of hunting and feasting and dancing. A celebration of life, and testament to a unique race of people that lived amongst the animals they immortalised in paintings and rock engravings across the continent.
Some 25 years ago, another artist began his pilgrimage to realise a dream in a faraway country. That artist was German born Albert Christoph Reck, and his journey would end and begin in the Kingdom of Swaziland, a place of waterfalls and mountains, of sacred rituals and colourful ceremonies nestling in the south-eastern part of Africa. Leaving the land of his forefathers Albert, together with his wife Maria-Louise and their seven children set off across the sea in a converted fishing trawler, and many ports and many adventures later finally settled in this `Pearl of Africa`. The San or Bushmen cave paintings of which Swaziland has a fair number, were about to share a moment of destiny with an acclaimed artist and his wife, a talented designer and weaver.
The combination of ancient and contemporary perspective was the spark to ignite an exciting new art form, and Swaziland Tapestries was born. The `bushman ` from Hamburg was finally speaking to his ancestors!
Today this very different, unique company which is part of Endlotane Studios ( the place of the Spirit ) is producing masterpieces in mohair, sisal, cotton and other natural fibres, that bear true homage to the original artists, and
give us a reflection of the splendid art found in this `Kingdom of Kings` and other African sites. These are not the only designs. Albert Christoph is an artist in his own right and many of the designs are his own insightful rendition of activities and phenomenon in history, in his imagination, and around us. All the tapestries, and there are many in all the sizes, colours and price ranges you can imagine, are limited editions and come with a certificate of authenticity. Any investment broker who knows his onions will have something nice to say about that!
Visitors to this locale will also notice something quite different to other `arty` places. This is after enjoying the magnificent , panoramic view which
this mountain-top complex affords you, and the lush, indigenous flora which abounds with over 70 species of birdlife. The something different is that 95% of the 40 women who weave here are also artists, for when weaving a design they imbue it with their own flavour, their own interpretation of line, colour and form. Each individual design of the 5, 10 or 15 limited editions is therefore different. You may have the same design as 10 other mortals on planet Earth, but yours my friend is indisputably one of a kind.