Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial Doll

$580
£438.29
€506.11
CA$810.46
A$899.28
CHF 471.06
MX$11,027.54
NOK 5,991.72
SEK 5,655.93
DKK 3,774.41
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a ceremonial doll of the Ndebele people of South Africa. These dolls are made with tall, cylindrical wooden bodies, wrapped in cotton and highly decorated with various fabrics, metal rings and dense beadwork. One of several dolls used in Ndebele culture to commemorate transitional phases of life, a ceremonial doll such as this is used as part of courtship traditions. To indicate that he's ready for marriage, a young man will place the doll on his partner's doorstep. If she accepts his proposal, she'll return the doll to his home. From the collection of Frances and Gary Comer.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)Width: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Depth: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)
  • Style:
    Folk Art (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Mid-20th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: CFC553A1stDibs: LU820036391082

More From This Seller

View All
Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king...
Category

Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Fabric, Cotton, Wood

Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a ceremonial doll...
Category

Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a ceremonial doll...
Category

Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cotton, Wood, Twine

Beaded Ndebele Initiation Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king...
Category

Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Fabric, Cotton, Wood

Beaded Ndebele Initiation Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king...
Category

Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Fabric, Cotton, Wood

Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a ceremonial doll...
Category

Late 20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cotton, Wood

You May Also Like

20th Century African Cameroon Namji Doll for Prosperity, Health & Fertility
Located in Miami, FL
20th Century African Cameroon Namji Doll for Prosperity, Health & Fertility Offered for sale in a 20th-century African Namji doll from the Namji tribe of ...
Category

20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Rare Form of Beaded Doll, Kenyan Coastal Region
Located in London, GB
This mid-twentieth century beaded doll, which likely originates from the Kenyan Coastal Region around Mombasa, exhibits a rare form with a wonderfully simp...
Category

Mid-20th Century Kenyan Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Hardwood, Beads

Fine Traditional Doll. Nyamwezi, Tanzania
Located in London, GB
The body consisting of a gourd in a beautiful form and decorated with a simple contrasting band of old glass beads of white, red and blue. A piece with a wonderful form that was tra...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tanzanian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Beads

Collection of Ndebele Fertility Dolls
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A group of six collected Ndebele hand beaded fertility dolls of various sizes and designs. The dolls are made in secret by the maternal grandmother of ...
Category

20th Century African Tribal Toys and Dolls

Materials

Beads

1990s Wood and Beaded Sculpture Of Woman - NAMJI Fertility Doll
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1990s Wood and Beaded Sculpture Of Woman - NAMJI Fertility Doll Cowrie Shells On wood base
Category

1990s Cameroonian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Beads

Namji Doll with Beads, Cowries, Coins and Metal Rings, Cameroon Mid 20th century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Sometimes referred to as dolls, this is a highly abstract figure with conical head, arms and legs held out from body, long columnar neck wrapped with mulitple strands of different si...
Category

Mid-20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood