Description
These ear ornaments, the name of which translates as “cowhide of the ear,” were historically worn by a Maasai woman from the day she was initiated into adulthood until her death. Made from cowhide, glass beads, buttons, and metal wire, a typical pair consists of two pieces that have slightly different decorations and shapes. Design choices are made carefully: colors and patterns are specific to Maasai communities or even to subgroups within them. Here, the predominance of blue refers to the sky and the Maasai god Enkai.
Provenance
Acquired in Tanzania by Kip McKesson African Art, East Lansing, MI, 1993; sold to Michael R. Mack, Atlanta, 2014; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 2024.
Accession Number
271830
Medium
Animal hide, glass beads, buttons, and metal wire
Dimensions
A: 16.9 × 6.1 × 1.6 cm (6 5/8 × 2 3/8 × 5/8 in.); B: 17.2 × 4.8 × 1 cm (6 3/4 × 1 7/8 × 3/8 in.)
Classification
ear ornament
Credit Line
Gift of the Michael R. Mack Collection