BEADWORK PROCESSING

Ostriches are the largest birds that can survive in the Kalahari region. They are very graceful though ostentatious animals. Their eggs are large with extremely tough shells. Long ago, the San developed the skill to process ostrich eggshells into wonderful jewellery items. The eggs used for present day craft production are not taken from the wild, but purchased from licensed ostrich farms.

The eggshell, first broken into small pieces, are then drilled through with a hand tool. The pieces are then put on a sinew string to keep them together and roughly rounded by chipping off small bits and pieces. Next a grinding stone is used to make a whole string of beads round and smooth. Now the beads are ready to be processed into jewellery. By stringing them, long round shapes are made. By weaving them, flat mat-like shapes come out. The stringing and weaving is also done with sinew, which makes the items durable and strong. Sometimes the ostrich beads are mixed with other materials, such as pieces of porcupine quills, cork beads and seeds. These make beautiful patterns and colour shades. The ostrich beads are also used for decorating aprons, dancing skirts, bags and powder puffs.

WHOLE EGGS

Whole ostrich eggs are available plain and decorated. The contents are removed and eaten, leaving a small hole at the bottom. They are decorated by engraving the shell with a sharp object and coloured by applying animal fat and charcoal.

BRACELETS

Ostrich bracelets make a perfect gift. Beads are woven into flat designs and then attached to a small piece of smooth leather on both ends. One end of the bracelet has a small buttonhole cut into it, while the other has an eggshell button to close the bracelet. Porcupine quill is sometimes used to form patterns. Also available are bracelets of plain strings of beads, often alternated with glass beads or seeds.

NECKLACES, HEADBANDS, CHOKERS

Necklaces are a major item in the San culture. They are worn singly, or as a set of several strings. They look stunning on skins of all complexions. Often the ostrich beads are mixed with other materials such as bits of porcupine quill, pieces of cork or seeds found in the veld. Some necklaces are finished with a richly decorated object such as a pendant, a butterflyshaped weaving, or a carved nut. Most long necklaces are in one piece. They come in different dimensions: long medium / short, thin / thick beads or single / double strands. Necklaces are also available in very long strings, suitable to be wrapped round the neck. There is also the choker which closes with an ostrich eggshell button. Chokers are available in single or double strand or wide bands.

RINGS AND EARRINGS

Ostrich beads and glass beads are used to make rings. They come in a variety of widths and diameters. Small strings of ostrich beads make wonderful earrings. Both ostrich and glass beads, woven into small triangular shapes, also make excellent earrings. The earrings are attached to fine hooks, either silver or golden, depending on the design. They are mounted on a piece of sturdy paper carrying the producers logo and sometimes a brief description.

BELTS AND HEADBANDS

Larger and longer circular strands of woven beads form headbands and belts. The use of sinew makes them quite strong as well as decorative. The mixture of materials and colours results in a wide variety of designs.