necklace, beaded; square beadwork pendant on twisted beaded string; pendant multicolor triangles on white ground, 6 x 6.5 cm; length necklace as worn 34 cm
Donor:
Florence M. Frost
Collection place:
Republic of South Africa
Verbatim coll. place:
Union of S. Africa; Zulu
Culture or time period:
Zulu
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Necklaces
Function:
3.1 Status Objects and Insignia of Office
Accession date:
1968
Context of use:
Called "love letter;" Zulu lovers meet on weldt and can tell at a glance if unmarried (if wearing one of these around neck); green: my heart is wearing for thee as the stones in the brook are worn away in the water; red: I love thee with my heart's blood; black: but I will come to thee only in the black kirtle of marriage; yellow: yellow means I'm growing very impatient, hurry up and get those cattle. Zigzag on necklace strap indicates she is going to be a good daughter-in-law.