Not only are Zulu beaded adornments beautiful, they play an important role in many traditional rituals, customs and ceremonies. The beadwork is a form of courtship communication between men and women. The beaded adornments reveal age, marital status, sexual intentions, region or clan the wearer is from, societal position, etc. The colors and geometric shapes are encoded with symbolism. A triangle shape facing downwards signifies an unmarried woman, while a diamond shape represents a married woman. A triangle facing upwards signifies an unmarried man and a married man is represented by an hourglass. The colors used can have positive or negative meanings. At the bottom is a row of African Imfibinga Beads, Natural Grey Seeds, sometimes called Amalosi seeds or Job's tears.
Worn also as a waist ornament.
Height: 6 ½" x Width: 5 ¼" (beaded part only)
