Wedding Necklace (Mporo)
Probably mid- or late 20th century
Rendille Kenya Eastern and Southern Africa
Kenya
This multitiered necklace or collar was worn by a married woman of the Rendille people. Beaded necklaces, bracelets, and anklets are among their most prized forms of body adornment for women. The name given to this type of elaborate necklace, mporo, derives from the special red beads imported to Kenya from Europe since the 19th century. In Rendille culture they symbolize fertility, wealth, and a connection with the ancestors.
Fibers, beads, animal hide, and pigment