Bead work

Imfibinga/Ubuchwabasi (Jobs tears/river stones)

These beads are usually found along the side of the river.

They come in natural grayish shades and they are almost shaped like an onion, with a semi oval top and a slightly rounded bottom. They have a hard shell like cover and they are soft in the middle with a hole that runs through, from top to bottom.

I felt interested in the way they naturally come in different shades so I decided to used that to create patterns for beaded neck pieces.

Triangle patterns using the Zulu love letter stitch to make a choker.

An Ombre of the variety of the shades from the beads, using the Rope stitch on a 4 strand pattern.

A twisted effect using the rope stitch, on a 3 strand pattern

I would enjoy to explore a bit more with these beads, for an example, to colour them in bright colours and use them in smaller jewellery pieces. 

Plat Africa Competition 2015

                                                          working drawings

Inspiration

Design concept 

Finished piece

Artist statement

Designing a collection of jewellery inspired by my findings from the Phansi Museum.

Beaded neck piece.

Icansi/Isicephu  bangle

Ihlali bangle

Pansi Museum

Beaded waist, arm and neck pieces with different stitches and patterns.

All of these peices are worn by females of different age groups in the Zulu culture and some are accessorized with brass stud material to enhance their value.  

Zulu traditional beaded accessories with bright colours and geometric patterns.

Zulu woman traditional outfit, with beaded accessories and Impala horn pendant. 

Zulu beaded waist belts for ladies, added as accessories on a black Isidwaba (leather skirt) and on red fabric material

Rickshaw hat with beaded accessories and painted Nguni cattle horn.

Wooden hand carved and painted fighting sticks

Wooden hand carved walking sticks and knobkerries accessorized with telephone wire and steel studs.

Hand woven grass baskets with geometric patterns.

Painted umgibe (Grass mat hanger).

Iziqhaza (ear-clips), painted and studded.

Telephone wire woven vase.

Imbenge (the lid), made from telephone wire on a traditional beer pot with carved out patterns.

Ibheshu (loincloth) accessorized with steel studs and reflective lights.

Isihlangu (shield)

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Walking sticks accessorized with telephone wire and brass studs

Fabric material bags, accessorized with beads and tassels.

3rd Year jewellery pictures I found on my facebook

Calla lily inspired 925 silver ring with blue and grey pearl beads 

925 silver pendant with claw set enamel 

Oxidized 925 silver ring, pieced out pattern and green resin set on tube

Silver filigree center piece 

Silver filigree earrings

925 Silver pendant with red resin 

925 silver earrings with red resin

925 silver earrings with red resin