Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 0544-0004   CAS 0544-0004; Pubic apron
Category Bead & Leatherwork
Object Name Pubic apron
Culture Ndebele
Global Region Sub-Saharan Africa
Country South Africa
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data Southern Transvaal, Loskop area
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1970s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Canvas cloth; Glass and plastic beads; String
Description Pubic apron worn by very young girls and boys; Apron consists of small rectangular canvas panel which is fully beaded on front with geometric pattern in translucent aqua and yellow and opaque black, white, and orange beads and framed on all four edges in blue beads; Pair of leather thongs is attached to back of apron for tying around waist; Approximately 150 short string fringes are suspended from beaded panel, and each fringe is looped at the end and strung with 4 to 6 white or blue beads.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 15.5, Thickness = 1.1, Length = 12.0