16 | T HE B A R OSSA MAG // HI STORY
Our Barossa heritage is often
overshadowed by our great wines
and food, but I recently discovered a
piece of old Barossa furniture with an
interesting story.
Numerous German cabinetmakers
settled in this region from the mid
1800’s, bringing with them a style of
furniture used in their homeland. Carl
Wilhelm Schaedel, a ‘tischlermeister’
or ‘master cabinetmaker’, arrived in
South Australia from Brandenburg in
1856, settling in Nuriootpa.
By the 1870’s he had the means to
build a substantial house with a
large basement workshop, (pictured
c.1890’s), which still stands in
Nuriootpa’s main street.
Wilhelm produced a variety of Baltic
pine and Australian red cedar furniture
from the 1850’s to the 1890’s including
wardrobes, kitchen cupboards, chests
of drawers, tables and chairs.
Just as an artist would sign a painting,
Wilhelm sometimes signed his
furniture; also leaving an important
date and place of manufacture.
Occasionally one of Wilhelm’s artisan
pieces comes to light, as did the
WORDS BY LUKE ROTHE
pictured kitchen dresser. It was during
recent restoration that Schaedel’s
signature was discovered, increasing
its historical significance.
Written in pencil: - ‘C.W. Schaedel,
Nuriootpa, 5 April 1891’
It’s important to keep the ‘story’
associated with any historic object.
When researching the German family
history of the dresser I came up with a
great result. The owner’s grandfather’s
wife had previously been married at
Light Pass on 18th April 1891 – 13 days
after Schaedel signed the dresser. This
is significant.
We can assume that the dresser was
a gift to the bridal couple, probably
from one of the parents. Furniture
gifting was not unusual in the Barossa,
to help a couple furnish their humble
home.
Schaedel wardrobes and dressers
can be visually recognisable by their
‘scrolled’ top pediment. This became
a ‘signature style’ and was also used
by Wilhelm’s brother, Hermann, a
cabinetmaker working further down
Murray Street. The Schaedels and
other local cabinetmakers have left a
lasting legacy of collectable Germanic
furniture.
Local Know-how
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seriously and being locals we understand our
regions insurance requirements.
Speak to us to discuss your general insurance needs.
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Tischlermeister
of Nuriootpa