Product Reviews Facts and Notes

Africa is well known for its fantastic works of art. The most appealing works of art at present are their incredible beadwork, which the Zulu Tribe has become most popular. Their technique in beadwork has been past down for hundreds of years, and they seemed to have mastered them all, this incredible art form would make a great unique gift for that special someone.

In Africa some of the ancient relics have been made using seeds, metal, stones and in some cases eggs. However modern times have these new artworks being made form glass beads.

The Egyptians were the first ones to discover glass beads they then set up trade routes with the people of South Afriica, trading was common practice between the Egyptians and the South Africans they traded Ivory and other items for the glass beads from the Egyptians.

The South Afrcans began constructing objects using the glass beads with the help of wire. The designs they created were absolutley beautiful, the designs included cars, flowers, and almost any animal. The frame is made of a galvanised wire and then decorated with colored beads.

In Africa many families are very poor and they could not afford glass beads. Families started making toys from just wire. The popularity of the wire structures became so popular with overseas tourists, they started extending the art form by adding the coloured glass beads to their designs. You can now find designs anywhere from drums to cars. Even security guards at night starting decorating their “Knockberries” with bright colourful telephone wire, just to keep them awake during their night watch.

In the earlier days copper colour coded wires were used in their creations. One can now find wire sculptures of musical instruments, animals, bicycles fashioned from steel wire. These sculptures can be found not only in studios but also roadside stands and markets. These would make truly unique gifts.

You need to see this artwork to believe it, once you see the passion and creativity, that has been put into each design. The designs are never ending they can make trees, butterflies, spider webs. You will also find decorative wire bowls, bracelets, reptiles. Colourful plates made from wire and matching under plates can also be seen.

Many of the Zulu crafters and artists began selling their art in public markets instead of small roadside stands in order to bring in more customers; however, a great many wire artists realized the value of their work and began opening up art shops and elegant and sophisticated galleries to display many different types of art work.

If you know someone who fancies cultural art from many different cultures, or just one particular culture, wire art would make a unique gift, in their collection, it will definitely draw attention to any art collection, with such prominent colors.