RAD 113 – Liphofung 1

Original Sold

This scene exists under an overhang in a valley near the Liphofung Village in the Mount Fletcher district of the Eastern Cape.

As can be seen from this recording, parts of some of the eland in this frieze had completely weathered from the rock and it was not possible to discern the position of the legs of the large yellow eland. What became clear was the cow painted in red over the eland in the centre.

A group of human figures with sticks and the remnants of quivers and arrows can be seen in the top right. To the right of the top human figure appears to be the head and neck of an equine animal painted in white. I was not able to make out the body of this animal. Also interesting to me, is that this animal was placed looking into a crevice in the rock. A red figure in the centre bottom of the panel appears to be in a dancing or animated position. Intriguing in this scene is the large bent over human figure with tasselled accoutrements hanging from the body. Although faint on the rock, I was able to discern a foreshortened painting from the rear of a shaded yellow eland. This in the bottom right of the scene.

The shading on some of the eland is testimony to the skill of the artist and his/her ability to blend colours on a vertical, undulating surface.

The rock background is as I observed it on site. Surface weathering had covered images on the entire left side of this frieze.

View from Liphofung Rock Art Shelter