“The gold rhino was recovered from Mapungubwe Hill from a burial site known as the “original gold grave” or M1 A620. It dates to the later occupation period of Mapungubwe from about CE 1250 – CE 1290. It weighs only 37.4g and is rather diminutive in size 145.26mm x 55.06mm.
The Mapungubwe gold rhino was reconstructed and restored by the British Museum in 1999 and placed on public exhibition in the Mapungubwe Collection by the University of Pretoria Museums for twenty years and it forms part of the Mapungubwe National Heritage Collection. Today, it is on temporary loan from the University of Pretoria Museums to the Javett-UP Art Centre on the National Treasures Exhibition of the Mapungubwe Gold Collection amongst an extensive fine collection of 20th and contemporary collections of the art of Africa.”
The replica Rhino was created for the Main Street Mining Mall, which runs along the heart of Johannesburg’s historic mining district. The area was home to many South African mining houses, such as Anglo-American Corporation, Chamber of Mines and JCI. The main Street all is host to an outdoor museum of mining history, with artefacts and storyboards that relate to aspects of mining.
A replica of the Mapungubwe gold Rhino which is much larger than the original piece which is barely 15 cm in length. The replica is displayed on a large black plinth that is 2 metres high.
“The gold rhino was recovered from Mapungubwe Hill from a burial site known as the “original gold grave” or M1 A620. It dates to the later occupation period of Mapungubwe from about CE 1250 – CE 1290. It weighs only 37.4g and is rather diminutive in size 145.26mm x 55.06mm.
The Mapungubwe gold rhino was reconstructed and restored by the British Museum in 1999 and placed on public exhibition in the Mapungubwe Collection by the University of Pretoria Museums for twenty years and it forms part of the Mapungubwe National Heritage Collection. Today, it is on temporary loan from the University of Pretoria Museums to the Javett-UP Art Centre on the National Treasures Exhibition of the Mapungubwe Gold Collection amongst an extensive fine collection of 20th and contemporary collections of the art of Africa.”
The replica Rhino was created for the Main Street Mining Mall, which runs along the heart of Johannesburg’s historic mining district. The area was home to many South African mining houses, such as Anglo-American Corporation, Chamber of Mines and JCI. The main Street all is host to an outdoor museum of mining history, with artefacts and storyboards that relate to aspects of mining.
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