#  Ndebele Apron 

 



***Ndebele Apron*****, 19th Century**  
Beads, fibers, mixed media  
29.5 x 26.5 x 2.75” (74.93 x 67.31 x 6.99 cm)  
Courtesy of Florence Ladd  
The Cooper Gallery Permanent Collection

Women wear Ndebele aprons to denote reaching a particular stage in their adult life. Created traditionally by the mother-in-law, a woman will don her jocolo initially upon marriage and afterwards, only on special occasions. A jocolo is characterized by thousands of small white-and-color seed beads meticulously woven onto animal skin canvas. The five finger-like panels are representative of the hope that she will bear children.

[Return to Permanent Collection](/node/1386139)