Handmade Floating Stone & Maasai Bead Necklace- Turquoise

Handmade by Maasai women in Kenya, this illusion necklace features brightly colored stones with Maasai bead accents, creating the perfect summertime accessory!  Because each necklace is handmade each is unique and no two are exactly alike.

• Measures 18" - 20"
• Barrel clasp

Maasai beadwork embodies the whole of Maasai culture representing beauty, strength, tradition, warriorhood, social status, and their deep love and devotion for their cattle.  The age-old art form is practiced by women of the village who learn from their mothers, who learned from their mothers.  The women take small glass beads that are laid out on trays and string onto clear threading.  From here the designs and beauty explode to create bracelets, earrings, and necklaces.

Did you know each color has a symbolic meaning for the tribe?

• Red stands for bravery, unity, and blood.  The red is for the slaughtered cow.
• White is for peace, purity, and health.
• Blue, signifies the energy and the sky. They believe that with the rainfall they can in turn feed their cattle and provide proper infrastructure for them.
• Orange and Yellow reflect hospitality. Visitors are served cow’s milk from orange gourds.
• Green like the earth symbolizes health and land.
• Black represents the people and the struggles they endure.

All jewelry is crafted by women of the Maasai tribe in rural Kenya and Fair Trade imported.

*Other colors shown are sold separately.

To learn more about this innovative community and the talented artists that create these eco-friendly pieces of jewelry, click on "About the Artisans".