Umkhwetha Bracelet.

This is a bracelet made of sterling silver jump rings and a designed pierced plate incorporated with a leather strip. The bracelet is manufactured with the use of a simple designed chain mail technique (see fig 1). The design process was focused on the milestone (Umkhwetha). I wanted to create a bracelet that address the aspects of that milestone, the chain mail represent the short period of initiation (see fig 1) and the complex design of the pierced plate portrays the period as the most important time of his adult life (see fig 2).

 

fig 1 - Stirton. B., Xhosa initiates.

fig 2 - Rozani. B., (2019) Umkhwetha Bracelet.