Object Details
- Label Text
- Among the Ndebele peoples of the Northern Transvaal region of South Africa, it is the women who create distinctive and beautiful beadwork and mural paintings. Their designs tend to compact forms, primarily geometric, but may include modern objects or symbols.
- Beadwork is used primarily for women's ceremonial garments. Among the most dramatic garments are ceremonial beaded blankets. Successors to beaded leather capes, the blankets are manufactured in South Africa and, despite the variety of patterns available, the Ndebele only choose striped or red patterned blankets for beading. The beads used are of European manufacture. The beadwork strips vary in width and number. Additional strips are added for special occasions and, when the blanket wears out, the beaded strips are transferred to another blanket. It is therefore not unusual to find isolated strips such as this one.
- In the late 1800s white was the dominant color, but by the mid-20th century multicolored beads in geometric bands and stylized house patterns were balancing the white. By the 1970s the Ndebele showed an increasing preference for darker colors--blue, green, purple and black--and larger beads. This example with its reliance on small white beads, and openwork designs refers to the older traditions.
- Description
- Long, narrow rectangular panel of small white glass beads in small openwork patterns.
- Provenance
- Norman and Susan Priebatsch, collected Bronkhorstspruit area, -- to 1977
- Chaim and Renee Gross, New York, 1978 to 1983
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Ndebele artist
- Date
- Early to mid-20th century
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Gross
- Medium
- Glass beads, plant fiber
- Dimensions
- H x W: 141 x 9.4 cm (55 1/2 x 3 11/16 in.)
- Type
- Textile and Fiber Arts
