The Maasai Beaded Choker
A Maasai choker, beaded by hand in Kenya. A firm white collar carries a maroon stepped pattern, divided by fine cobalt-blue bars and edged below with red and black beads. A large translucent disc button sits at the front, and from the lower edge fall fine silver chains of different lengths, each ending in a round silver disc that catches the light as you move.
Every bead is placed by hand, so no two are exactly alike.
Details
The details
- Handcrafted by Maasai artisans in Kenya
- Glass seed beads, disc buttons, silver-tone chains and discs
- Ships from Kenya, worldwide
Shipping and returns
Every piece ships from Kenya to anywhere in the world. Delivery times vary by destination; you will see the estimate for your country at checkout.
14-day returns on unused pieces in their original packaging.
The story of the beaded collar
A collar is a map of home.
Among the Maasai, the beadwork is made by women, often in the evenings once the day's work is done, and every collar carries meaning. On a bride's wedding collar, each shape stands for a house, the outer ring for the fence around the village and the centre for the cattle enclosure. Dancing collars are worn stacked, many at once, their colours chosen by the woman who made them. Before glass beads came through trade in the late 1800s, they were made from seeds, bone, shell and clay. Our collars and necklaces are made in that tradition.
Unboxing
What arrives with your piece
Soft sand-toned cotton with a gold FIELROC mark, to store your piece between uses.
Tied to the bag with natural jute twine: where your piece comes from and the meaning behind its colours.
Every order carries a thank-you, written by hand and signed Ashe oleng, "thank you very much" in Maa, the Maasai language.
Sending it as a gift?Tick "Make it a gift" and it arrives in our Fielroc gift box instead, with your own message written by hand on our card and no prices inside.
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