Necklace
ca. 1870-1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Beads made from ostrich eggshell are amongst the earliest known examples of African jewellery. They are made by the indigenous peoples of the Kalahari Desert, which spans areas of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. These peoples are sometimes called 'Bushmen' as they were traditionally hunter-gatherers but since the 1950s have increasingly turned to settled agriculture.
Making beads from ostrich eggshell is a time-consuming and intricate process. The eggshell is broken into small pieces which are tapped into a slightly rounded shape. A hole is then drilled through the centre of the bead before it is strung on a string (traditionally sinew, now nylon) so that the beads fit tightly together. The beads are then rubbed with a brittle stone for a smooth rounded shape.
Making beads from ostrich eggshell is a time-consuming and intricate process. The eggshell is broken into small pieces which are tapped into a slightly rounded shape. A hole is then drilled through the centre of the bead before it is strung on a string (traditionally sinew, now nylon) so that the beads fit tightly together. The beads are then rubbed with a brittle stone for a smooth rounded shape.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Ostrich egg-shell beads |
| Brief description | Necklace of ostrich egg-shell beads, South Africa, ca.1870-1880 |
| Physical description | Necklace made of circular pieces of ostrich egg-shell, strung together tightly. |
| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Hugh Exton |
| Object history | Accessions register entry - 'Necklace. Composed of circular pieces of ostrich egg-shell strung together. Worn by the Bushmen of South Africa. Modern African. Given by Dr[?] Hugh Exton, Bloemfontein' A Wikipedia entry accessed 24 March 2018 records that Hugh Exton (1833-1903), F.G.S., was a physician, anthropologist, geologist and collector. He was President of the South African Geological Society from its founding in 1895. He married Jacomina Hendrina van der Poel. Their son, Hugh Exton (1864-1955) was a noted photographer whose glass slides are preserved at the Hugh Exton Photographic Museum, Pietersburg. |
| Summary | Beads made from ostrich eggshell are amongst the earliest known examples of African jewellery. They are made by the indigenous peoples of the Kalahari Desert, which spans areas of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. These peoples are sometimes called 'Bushmen' as they were traditionally hunter-gatherers but since the 1950s have increasingly turned to settled agriculture. Making beads from ostrich eggshell is a time-consuming and intricate process. The eggshell is broken into small pieces which are tapped into a slightly rounded shape. A hole is then drilled through the centre of the bead before it is strung on a string (traditionally sinew, now nylon) so that the beads fit tightly together. The beads are then rubbed with a brittle stone for a smooth rounded shape. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 137-1885 |
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| Record created | August 28, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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