Elevate your style with this stunning Maasai bead statement necklace, meticulously handcrafted in Kenya. Featuring a brass collar plate that elegantly suspends long multicolored beads, this necklace captures the vibrant hues of a sunset, making it a spectacular addition to any jewelry collection.
- Material: Beads and a brass collar plate
- Dimensions: 27 inches long and 5.5 inches wide
- Origin: Authentically made in Kenya
- Design: Features red-tone multicolor beads for a sunset-like appearance
- Care Instructions: Handle with care, recommended for gentle use
design: A curved, hammered brass collar plate sits at the base of the neck and suspends a dense fringe of long, hand-strung seed-bead strands in a warm mix of red, orange, yellow, and black that reads like a sunset.
size: 27 inches long, 5.5 inches wide.
material: Hammered brass collar plate and hand-strung glass seed beads.
features: hammered brass collar plate, cascading beaded fringe, multicolor sunset-toned beading, bold statement length, handcrafted in Kenya
care: Wipe the brass plate with a soft dry cloth, keep the beaded strands away from moisture and perfume, and store flat or hanging so the fringe doesn't tangle.
disclaimer: Because each strand is hand-strung and the brass plate is individually hammered, slight variations in bead placement, strand length, and plate finish are normal and expected.
The Story
This necklace draws on Maasai beadwork, a craft long practiced by Maasai women in Kenya and northern Tanzania, in which small glass seed beads are strung and worked into collars, strands, and panels worn as personal adornment. Beadwork of this kind has traditionally marked age, status, and occasion within Maasai communities, with pieces exchanged and worn as part of everyday and ceremonial dress.
Color choices in Maasai beadwork are rarely arbitrary. Red is closely associated with bravery, unity, and the cattle that are central to Maasai life; black, yellow, and orange tones appear throughout traditional palettes alongside it. The warm, multicolor mix on this piece, arranged in long cascading strands, sits within that same color language even as the fringe silhouette and brass collar plate reflect a more contemporary reworking of the form for statement-necklace wear.
The brass collar plate itself nods to the metal collars and discs long used across East African beadwork and metalwork traditions to anchor strands at the neckline, giving the piece structure while the beaded fringe below carries the color and movement.
A piece like this starts with a flat sheet of brass, cut to shape and hand-hammered into its curved collar form, which gives it a slightly uneven, tool-marked surface rather than a machine-smooth one. Separately, an artisan strings small glass seed beads one at a time onto individual strands, working in a repeating red, orange, yellow, and black sequence to build the sunset effect, then knots and threads each finished strand into the base of the brass plate until the fringe is dense enough to hang with even weight. The stringing is slow, repetitive handwork, and the finished necklace reflects the small irregularities of beads and knots made by hand rather than machine.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: Kenya
- Craft Tradition: Maasai beadwork
- Ideal For: Someone who wants a bold, handcrafted statement necklace with a strong graphic presence
- Wear It With: Let it be the focal point over a simple, solid-color top or dress, as shown here over a plain jewel-tone blouse, rather than layering it with other necklaces.
- Purpose: Statement jewelry, special-occasion wear, everyday bold accessorizing, collecting handcrafted African jewelry
- Metal: Brass
Questions & Answers
What is the necklace made of?
A hammered brass collar plate at the top, with long strands of hand-strung glass seed beads in red, orange, yellow, and black cascading below it.
How long is the necklace?
It measures 27 inches long and 5.5 inches wide, sitting as a bib-style statement piece rather than a close-to-the-neck choker.
Where is it made?
It's handcrafted in Kenya, using Maasai beadwork techniques for the beaded fringe paired with a hand-hammered brass collar plate.
Will the beads and brass finish look exactly like the photo?
Close, but not identical — because the beads are hand-strung and the brass plate is individually hammered, you can expect minor natural variation in bead placement and plate texture from piece to piece.
How should I care for it?
Wipe the brass with a soft dry cloth, keep the beaded strands out of water and perfume, and store it flat or hanging so the fringe doesn't tangle or crease.
