Skip to main content
Wool blanket, with red color scheme; rectilinear, with 3 major bands of different geometric patterns in blue, black, white, green and purple beads sewn onto the outside surface. Short fringe of black, blue and white beads.
Gala Blanket (Nguba)
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Randy Batista

Gala Blanket (Nguba)

Maker Ndebele Artist
Datec. 1960
Place of originSouth Africa, Africa
MediumCommercial blanket, fiber, glass beads
Dimensions5 ft. 2 in. x 5 ft. 2 in. (157.5 x 157.5 cm)
ClassificationsClothing and accessories
Credit LineGift of William D. and Norma Canelas Roth
Object number2005.47.4
Collections
Visual DescriptionWool blanket, with red color scheme; rectilinear, with 3 major bands of different geometric patterns in blue, black, white, green and purple beads sewn onto the outside surface. Short fringe of black, blue and white beads.
Married Woman's Apron (umaphotholo)
Ndebele Artist
mid 20th century
The Fengu blankets are similiar to those of the Xhosa. This one has the fur trim which the Fengu prefer as well as the older mother-of-pearl buttons. There is also the fine black wool embroidery work and the delicate use of the glass bead-work. The blanket would have been worn partially folded over by about one third the width. The origin is Mazizini.
Zulu Artist
1850-1950
Conical form wrapped with glass beads and bead covered rings (white, pink, yellow, turquoise, red, blue); face is pink with white beads for eyes and mouth. Head is crowned by white bead rest; long braided bead loop with beaded loop from neck to base, and apron with fringe of white, black and red and green beads on waist.
Ndebele Artist
20th century
Rectangular panel with solid beaded motifs, with white, turquoise, black, purple, blue and green beads; Has a house motif in center; mostly small beads, some translucent others opaque, and some large beads on waistband.
Ndebele Artist
mid-late 20th century
Married Woman's Apron (isephepehtu)
Ndebele Artist
mid 20th century
Black headdress with braids made of wool and clusters of three white seed beads sewn into it at regular intervals.
Zulu Artist
mid 20th century
Layers of white and colored factory made cloth panels with beaded borders sewn together onto one panel; beaded loop (black with green, white and yellow diamond pattern)affixed to top of back panel; beaded  motifs of: geometric shapes, trees, cross, automobiles; white, black, yellow, red, turquoise and green beads, mostly seed beads; some beads 1/4" in diameter.
Kholekile Maxulu
c. 1960
Cylindrical form wrapped with glass and plastic bead strands (red, white, green, pink, dark blue), red wool or other fiber strands covering top, with a white interlaced beadwork disk in center, attached to strands of white, pink and blue, ands braided or white glass beads on each side.
Southern Sotho Artist
20th century
Doll representing female figure, conical form formed by glass bottle core, with knob-like head covered with black beads, encircled with 5 beaded rings -- black, white and blue. Beaded strips form arms.
Ndebele Artist
20th century
Leather panel with solid beaded motifs, dark on white background (possibly a house motif) with white lavender, red, black, yellow, blue, light blue, and green beads; five flaps on bottom of panel; has house or other architectural motif in center of panel; folded over top flap for drawstring belt.
Ndebele Artist
early-mid 20th century
null