Ingqhosha

Ingqhosha beaded collar

Ingqhosha is a Xhosa collar worn over the shoulders. It is a traditional collar made from glass beads. This beaded collar was worn both by men and women as markers of social roles and status (“Beaded collar (ingqosha), Xhosa artist, South Africa (article) | Khan Academy” n.d.). 

Zulu love letter

 

Zulu love letter

This Zulu love letter is worn around the neck. It is a necklace made from beads. In this case it looks like it was made with a brick stitch.  It is a traditional jewellery that was made by a maiden communicating with her man telling him that she was ready for marriage (Anneroselt 2018). 

Indian Mangalsutra

 

Mangalsutra necklace

Mangalsutra is traditional Indian jewellery, it is a necklace made from black beads and gold.  It is given to the bride by the groom and it shows that she is married (Raniwala 2022)

Roman

 

Roman ring

This is an ancient Roman signet ring. It is made from gold and bloodstone. I quote “The engraved gem would be pressed into wax, impressing the shape of the image carved into its surface” (Virginia & Virginia 2019).  In ancient Rome, higher ranking officials used signet as a form of royal mark. It was easy to identify the status of an individual who was wearing a specific ring like this one. 

Ancient Egypt

 

Maniature broad collar

This is a miniature broad collar for ancient Egyptian culture. It is made from gold, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and carnelian. The outline of this collar is forged or soldered. This broad collar was depicted through pharaohs, but it was

meant to lie across the chest of a divine statuette.   (“Miniature broad collar | early Ptolemaic Period | The Metropolitan Museum of Art” n.d.) 

Turkmen culture

 

Sinsile headdress crown

This is a traditional Sinsile headdress crown for Turkmen culture. It is made from various materials such as silver, silver shot, table cut carnelians, turquoise beads and gilded chains. In this case, the headdress was worn by young girls in daily life to indicate that they are unmarried  (“Crown | The Metropolitan Museum of Art” n.d.).

Ndebele

 

IJogolo apron 

IJogolo is a traditional apron worn by Ndebele women. It is an apron made from glass beads, thread and plain leather. IJogolo serves as a marital status for a women in Ndebele culture (“Married Woman’s Apron (Ndebele peoples) (article) | Khan Academy” n.d.).