Accession Number
2001/2.46

Title
Staff

Artist(s)
Ndebele

Medium & Support
wood with beads

Dimensions
49 in x 3 1/8 in x 2 3/8 in (124.5 cm x 8 cm x 6 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Margaret H. and Albert J. Coudron

Subject matter
The colors and design of the staff are the same as those seen on much of the beadwork and murals made by Ndebele women of the Transvaal region in Southern Africa, with solid colors outlined in black, organized in geometric motifs that are arranged symmetrically. At the turn of the 19th century, Ndebele women turned to the art of beadwork as a way to assert their ethnic identity in the face of forced displacement and oppression by the South African government. Since the 1970s, a new policy of forced displacements of Ndebele people has led to a great decline in the production of beadwork. Previously, beaded staffs were danced at weddings and also appeared at initiation ceremonies. The red and blue rings near the top of this particular staff are miniature versions of jewelry known as "cholwane" that women wear on their limbs and as neckrings.

Physical Description
A wooden staff, covered with beads in solid colors (red, blue, green and orange) outlined in black against a background of white beads, with a sideways M pattern in the middle of the shaft on either side. A stylized head of open beadwork tops the staff, followed by a tight-fitting necklace-like band with a clasp in orange and green and a white band, above solid red and blue rings.

Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessories

Primary Object Type
staff

Collection Area
African

Rights
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Keywords
beadwork (visual works)
ceremonial staffs