Unite the World with Africa Foundation – Unite the World with Africa Foundation
Auction Ends: Nov 5, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

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Traditional Maasai "Cuff Necklace"

Item Number
112
Estimated Value
120 USD
Opening Bid
50 USD  -  Item Has a Reserve

Item Description

Traditional Maasai Cuff Necklace: Adornment for your walls.

 

For hundreds of years the Maasai have handcrafted jewelry in the form of beadwork. Maasai beadwork embodies the whole of Maasai culture representing beauty, strength, tradition, warriorhood, marriage, age sect, marital status, social status and their deep love and devotion for their cattle. For both Maasai women and men beauty is a very important aspect of Maasai culture and the beads are used as a form of adornment throughout everyday life, ceremonies, and rites of passage and is often given to visitors as a sign of gratitude and respect. What the bead colors represent:

Red: Bravery & strength

Blue: Energy (air and water)

Green: Nourishment (the land)

Orange: Warmth,  friendship, generosity and hospitality (color of a gourd used to share milk with guests)

Yellow: Fertility & growth (the sun) 

White: Purity & health (cow’s milk)

Black: Unity, harmony and solidarity (the color of the people)