Large beaded Maasai collar necklace, 'meringet'. Circular leather base, interior ring of blue beads, outer border of black and white beads with triangle beading inbetween in orange, white, green, blue and brown. Five strings of beads: orange, dark blue, light blue, white, and red, suspended from trapeze with detail of cowrie shell.
white, red, green, blue, and orange. Though many things are changing Meringet is still used not only by the Maasai but many people who appreciate intercultural interactions. Currently, the object is worn ceremonially during special occasions such as anniversaries, weddings, birthday parties, and also a source of gifting. With the entrance of entrepreneurs and designers into the cultural sphere, the contemporary Meringet is a hybrid of colours, shapes and beads of different materials ranging from hardened plastics, metals to precious stones such as diamonds, gold and silver.
