Necklace
- Museum number:
- 5-9939
- Permalink:
- ark:/21549/hm21050009939
- Accession number:
- Acc.2440
- Description:
- 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.
- Department:
- Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
- Comment:
- Materials, techniques: glass trade beads, fiber string
- Images:
-
- Legacy documentation:
-