Antique hand beaded leather Ndebele Ceremonial Maputo apron

Description

Ndebele Hand beaded Ceremonial Married Woman Apron is for your attention.
Condition: used.
Tribe: Ndebele
Origin: Zimbabwe
Dimensions cm: 19" W (49.5" (wide) x  21" (51cm (long).
Attractive traditional Ndebele apron is known as Isiphephet or Amaphotho. Made of hundreds of small glass beads in a variety of colours decorate this interestingly patterned apron from the Ndebele tribe who come from South Africa. The beads are sewn onto a piece of leather that is fashioned to be an apron. Partially beaded with geometric and symbolic designs, with bead-wrapped fringe.
Approx Age:
Early
20th Century
Materials: Animal skin/Glass beads
Throughout southern Africa, peoples wear beaded garments that comment upon their stage in life and convey aspects of their individual identity. Different types of beaded artifacts may communicate social and marital status, number of children, and a person’s home region or ethnicity.
Although the historical origins of southern African beadwork are uncertain, it is known that glass beads from Europe were available in the area as early as the sixteenth century through trade with the Portuguese. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the region became the world’s largest consumer of glass beads. Dating beaded works is difficult, although the color and size of the beads, the patterns and motifs, and the material used can all provide some indication of age.
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