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Type: jewelry

Ethnic Group: Massai

Country: Kenya

ECU Number: L0113-A

Description: These 23 items of multi-colored beadwork include earrings, armbands, necklaces and bracelets. The Masai wear numerous items of jewelry that use a complex code of colors, patterns, number and placement to indicate status, such as marriage or motherhood for women or initiation and warrior status for men. Rules of color order balance and motifs are followed. Correct placement on arms, ankles, wrists and ears are followed.

Significance researched to date: A complex code determines the colors, patterns, number, and placement of each piece of Masai beadwork. Rules dictate color order, balance and motifs, and contrasting and complementary colors are used to Òcatch the eye.Ó The strongest and oldest color set consists of a red-white-black triad, with end colors divided into two complementary pairs: red-green-white-orange-blue. The second set ends or restates the first with yellow for green and black for blue: yellow-red-white-black-orange. The final set of red-yellow-black is based on blanket patterns and the color of the national flag, developed in the 1980s.The concept of the ÒcutÓ is incorporated into activities and aesthetics. It is believed that mixture is a fact of life, that nothing should be continuous or unbroken. Since humans cannot create pure fields of color, a ÒcutÓ or element of black must be included.Correct placement of beadwork is closely followed. Upper and lower arms, ankles, wrists and ears alternate with each other and with the opposite arm. For example if a woman wears a red-white-black bangle on one wrist, she must wear a green-red-white-blue-orange bangle on the other. Men use smaller, more reserved neck ornaments, while women wear voluminous ones, either flat or dish-like, around the neck and ballooning between the ears and shoulders. Arms, waist, calves, and ankles are other points of ornament. Ornaments indicate status. For women, marriage, motherhood, and changes in status of her husband or sons are indicated. For men, initiation and warrior status are displayed. Metal coils are worn only by married women who are mothers. Certain combinations are worn only by married women with at least one circumcised son. Two pairs of select earrings must be worn when a woman goes out to milk in the morning. Inspired by a city visit, she may wear a headband naming police cars with swirling lights.Multicolored glass beads were first introduced to the Maasai at the turn of the century by caravans passing through their territory, who exchanged them for a guarantee of safe passage, a guarantee they could not always count on. Today, a variety of materials is used. As seen in this collection, chains, wire, leather, rubber, plastic sheets, recycled pins, zippers, and buttons are combined with the beads. Threads of sinew, sisal, plastic or nylon are used to sew them together.(Parrot, 127,Saitoti 203-207)

Type:	jewelry
Ethnic Group:	Massai
Country:	Kenya
ECU Number:	L0113-A

Description:	These 23 items of multi-colored beadwork include earrings, armbands, necklaces and bracelets. The Masai wear numerous items of jewelry that use a complex code of colors, patterns, number and placement to indicate status, such as marriage or motherhood for women or initiation and warrior status for men. Rules of color order balance and motifs are followed. Correct placement on arms, ankles, wrists and ears are followed.
Significance researched to date:	A complex code determines the colors, patterns, number, and placement of each piece of Masai beadwork. Rules dictate color order, balance and motifs, and contrasting and complementary colors are used to Òcatch the eye.Ó The strongest and oldest color set consists of a red-white-black triad, with end colors divided into two complementary pairs: red-green-white-orange-blue. The second set ends or restates the first with yellow for green and black for blue: yellow-red-white-black-orange. The final set of red-yellow-black is based on blanket patterns and the color of the national flag, developed in the 1980s.The concept of the ÒcutÓ is incorporated into activities and aesthetics. It is believed that mixture is a fact of life, that nothing should be continuous or unbroken. Since humans cannot create pure fields of color, a ÒcutÓ or element of black must be included.Correct placement of beadwork is closely followed. Upper and lower arms, ankles, wrists and ears alternate with each other and with the opposite arm. For example if a woman wears a red-white-black bangle on one wrist, she must wear a green-red-white-blue-orange bangle on the other. Men use smaller, more reserved neck ornaments, while women wear voluminous ones, either flat or dish-like, around the neck and ballooning between the ears and shoulders. Arms, waist, calves, and ankles are other points of ornament. Ornaments indicate status. For women, marriage, motherhood, and changes in status of her husband or sons are indicated. For men, initiation and warrior status are displayed. Metal coils are worn only by married women who are mothers. Certain combinations are worn only by married women with at least one circumcised son. Two pairs of select earrings must be worn when a woman goes out to milk in the morning. Inspired by a city visit, she may wear a headband naming police cars with swirling lights.Multicolored glass beads were first introduced to the Maasai at the turn of the century by caravans passing through their territory, who exchanged them for a guarantee of safe passage, a guarantee they could not always count on. Today, a variety of materials is used. As seen in this collection, chains, wire, leather, rubber, plastic sheets, recycled pins, zippers, and buttons are combined with the beads. Threads of sinew, sisal, plastic or nylon are used to sew them together.(Parrot, 127,Saitoti 203-207)