Red Beaded Necklace
The base of this necklace is a structured fabric "tube" which has been filled to give it form and structure. The surface of these are what the beads have been attached to. The necklace is fastened by pushing through a beaded ball on one end through a loop of beads on the other.
- Object: Red Beaded Necklace
- Artist: unknown
- Circa: unknown
- Dimensions: -
- Culture Area: Africa / Kenya
- Cultural Group: Maasai
- Cultural Context: In Maasai beading, each color has its own meaning related to a variety of cultural values and the material world. Red: bravery, unity, and blood. Often a cow is slaughtered when the Maasai meet and therefore unity is associated with red. White: peace, purity, and health. The association with health comes from white cows milk which the tribe drinks to stay healthy. Blue: energy and the sky. Orange: hospitality. Visitors are served cows milk from orange gourds. Yellow: also symbolizes hospitality. The animal skins on visitors beds are yellow. Green: health and land. Black: the people and the struggles they must endure, wisdom.
- Donor: Sharon Koch
- Catalog #: 2025.5.55