Sandstone
folk art route
Unique tombstones, a form of folk art, were chiseled out of local sandstone by James Wright and Cornelius de Waal by hand with stencils and chisels. Sandstone from the area were used. When a piece of sandstone were identified and earmarked to be used for a tombstone, it was broken loose from the surrounds as follows: holes were made into the sides and wet wooden sticks were stuck into these holes. Due to the wetness, the sticks swelled and thus the sandstone piece were broken loose. Then it was carted by donkey cart to where it would be crafted into magnificent artworks (many times this took place next to the grave). The top side was normally chiseled to a flat surface and leveled with a rough stone. With a variety of chisels and stencils the decorated sides as well as the wording and patterns were made.
On the farms Koega, Oest and
Dassiekloof are beautiful examples. This route is about 50 km long. 9 km
on the Carnarvon road and left at the Van Wyksvlei indicator. (Gravel rd).
15 km to Brownslaagte – Corbel house; 19 km to Koega – tombstones;
10 km to Oest – tombstones; 5 km to Dassiekloof – tombstone.