Beaded Necklace

MaasaiWW-1900-139968

1900·Animal hide, metal, and glass beads·42 × 14 × 5.4 cm (16 1/2 × 5 1/2 × 2 1/8 in.)

<p>This beaded object relates to morans, the warriors of Maasai society. These men are trained and initiated into a group that guards the community and traditional customs as well as cattle. A moran would have worn these as part of his colorful daily dress. The heavy use of white beads offers protection from the evil eye and other negative outside influences.</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1900
Medium: Animal hide, metal, and glass beads
Dimensions: 42 × 14 × 5.4 cm (16 1/2 × 5 1/2 × 2 1/8 in.)
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Artist: Maasai

Artist

Maasai

The Maasai are an Eastern Nilotic ethnic group native to northern, central and southern regions of Kenya including northern Tanzania, near the African Great Lakes region. Their native language is the Maasai language, a Nilotic language related to Dinka, Kalenjin and Nuer. A branch within the broader Nilo-Saharan language family. Except for some elders living in rural areas, most Maasai people speak the official languages of Kenya and Tanzania—Swahili and English.

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