Among the many fascinating objects displayed in the First Raadsaal Museum in Bloemfontein is a small iron cannon that quietly invites more questions than it answers. It is not the largest or most imposing exhibit, yet a closer look reveals two intriguing clues cast into its barrel: the initials JEC and the date 1760.

Exploring N’wana

“Ku veleka vukosi…” “To bear children is wealth.”

Among the Tsonga-Shangaan people, n’wana means “child”. Although often called a fertility doll, it is better understood as a child figure – a powerful symbol of womanhood, marriage and motherhood rather than a toy.

Unlike the simple xipopana, dolls made by children from rags, clay or maize cobs, a n’wana was presented to a young woman after initiation or at marriage.

A new permanent exhibition of Firearms is now on display at the First Raadsaal and Wagon Museum. The exhibition tells the story of the history of firearms. The exhibition was opened by Sharon Snell, CEO of the National Museum, on 3 October 2025.

The smooth, curved lines of bentwood chairs epitomize the timeless elegance linked to the European café style. While we may take this furniture style for granted today, its emergence in the late 19th century represented a revolutionary design advancement and signified an exhilarating shift from the rigid straight lines of earlier eras.

Could this be a bubble off?

In the Museum’s collection is a dry razor that resembles a modern bubble off or fluff shaver.

The Thorens Riviera is a gents’ dry razor manufactured in Switzerland in the 1950s. What makes this razor unique is its clockwork mechanism. The mechanism is wound up by turning the large chrome handle on the back similar to winding up a clock. This means no batteries or electricity is needed to power the shaver. In 1971, a similar razor was on board the Apollo 14 Moon mission.