Ndebele Apron, 19th Century
Beads, fibers, mixed media
29.5 x 26.5 x 2.75” (74.93 x 67.31 x 6.99 cm)
Courtesy of Florence Ladd
The Cooper Gallery Permanent Collection
Beads, fibers, mixed media
29.5 x 26.5 x 2.75” (74.93 x 67.31 x 6.99 cm)
Courtesy of Florence Ladd
The Cooper Gallery Permanent Collection
Women wear Ndebele aprons to denote reaching a particular stage in their adult life. Created traditionally by the mother-in-law, a woman will don her jocolo initially upon marriage and afterwards, only on special occasions. A jocolo is characterized by thousands of small white-and-color seed beads meticulously woven onto animal skin canvas. The five finger-like panels are representative of the hope that she will bear children.
