Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 0544-0002   CAS 0544-0002; Apron
Category Bead & Leatherwork
Object Name Apron
Culture Ndebele
Global Region Sub-Saharan Africa
Country South Africa
State/Prov./Dist. Transvaal
County
Other Geographic Data Loskop area
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1970s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Leather; Glass beads; Animal fur
Description Apron worn on ceremonial occasions (identified by collector as bridal skirt) by married women and constructed from single rectangular leather panel whose top edge is folded over and whose bottom edge terminate in series of 7 wide flaps of varying length; Pair of leather thongs are attached to top of apron for tying apron around waist; Much of the upper portion of the apron and 5 of the 7 lower flaps are decorated in beaded design consisting of 2 horizontal bands of geometric motifs in black, green, yellow, blue, and red on a predominately white background; Sides of apron are edged in blue beads; Single row of translucent aqua-colored beads are sewn along lower edge of folded-over tap at top of apron.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 50.0, Thickness = 0.2, Length = 61.5