Southern Sotho Lesotho or South Africa
Fertility Figure
19th century
Glass beads, cloth, and fibre
23 × 18 cm (9.1 × 7.1 in)
SEE IT IN PERSON
Not currently on view
In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026
Discussion
FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG
Figures like this one, made of wood, gourds, sinew, or fibers and decorated with beads, were cherished possessions for Southern Sotho women. Bridegrooms presented them to their brides to celebrate shared intentions to build a family. Women used the beaded figures to promote and honor fertility, and they would also hang them in a place of respect in the family home to be enjoyed as an object of artistry and colorful beauty.
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