Jul 6, 2022
Jul 6, 2022
Jun 29, 2022

Royal ceremonial beadwork: anklet (izitsaba)

Royal ceremonial beadwork: anklet (izitsaba)

1800s

Part of a set. See all set records

Glass beads and sinew

Overall: 27.9 x 8.9 cm (11 x 3 1/2 in.)

Severance and Greta Millikin Trust 2022.49.d

Location

Did you know?

The beads to make an ensemble like this cost several cattle in the early 1800s, an amount most couldn't afford.

Description

Elite Xhosa women once wore beaded garments like this on festive occasions. Made almost completely from imported Venetian or Bohemian glass beads, they were overt status symbols. Imported beads functioned as money for the Xhosa between circa 1770 and 1829. These garments’ female maker carefully selected beads of the highest quality, uniform in color, shape, and size.

See also
Collection: 
African Art
Department: 
African Art
Type of artwork: 
Mixed Media

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email [email protected].

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.