A particularly interesting characteristic of this piece is the use of rare pink glass beads to string together tiny nineteenth-century white heart beads. Worn by a married Kikuyu woman, this early and rare beaded head adornment would have served as a striking visual symbol of wealth and prestige.
The composition is unusual for traditional African head adornments. When placed over a married woman’s head, the large, intricately beaded spiral ornaments would have hung on either side of her temples. This piece makes a statement about the value and importance of beadwork and marriage throughout the Rift Valley region of East Africa.
Ex Private Collection, UK
Estimated Period: Early 20th Century
W: 23cm
H (Excl. Stand): 9cm
BNFEHO
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