Each ostrich egg shell necklace made by the Botswana's San Bushmen is painstakingly made by hand. The holes in the beads are drilled using a sharpened piece of heavy wire which is rolled vigorously between the palms of the hands. The rough beads are then strung together to form a long strand and shaped until they are smooth and round. Most of this work is done by the lady artisans of the village.
The natural color of the ostrich egg shell is seen in the white beads. Other colors such as tans and dark browns are obtained by coloring the beads in traditional plant dyes.
The pendant on this choker style necklace is intricately carved by Oza Boo, a noted artisan from Tsodilo Hills. It is made from the hard kernel of the Mokolwani Palm nut, which is often referred to as "vegetable ivory". The palm nut is carved on both sides.
Views Show Both Sides of Mokolwani Nut Carving
Approximately 15-17" long: end to end
