Necklaces (Imankeek)

MaasaiWW-1900-139980

1900·Beads and wire·overall: 40.1 × 38.8 × 2 cm (15 3/4 × 15 1/4 × 3/4 in.)

<p>This collar is made of three separate necklaces stacked together. It is worn in combination with other beaded jewelry, such as headbands and bracelets. The colorful beads signal wealth, status, and good health. Girls and married women wear imankeek during dances that make the jewelry rhythmically flap up and down. The pieces shown here highlight the symbolic triad of colors used in historical Maasai beadwork: white, red, and blue.</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1900
Medium: Beads and wire
Dimensions: overall: 40.1 × 38.8 × 2 cm (15 3/4 × 15 1/4 × 3/4 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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