Before the large-scale introduction of factory-made goods, African artisans made a range of implements from local resources. During the 19th century control of these resources was taken over by colonial authorities; at the same time the ready availability of imported trade goods led to the decline of local production.

Tools

Hoe Head

• Vernacular name: lezhebe
• Cultural affiliation: Lobedu
• Place: Duiwelskloof, Northern Province
• Acquisition: presented by Prof. E.J. Krige, 1970
• Materials: made by specialist metalworkers from local iron.
• Hoes were highly valued as items for bridewealth.

Adze

• Vernacular name: petlwana
• Cultural affiliation: Ngwato, Western Tswana
• Place: Gamoshupa, Botswana
• Acquisition: purchased from Rev. W. C. Willoughby, 1902
• Materials: blade of iron extracted and smelted locally in the Chwening Hills, handle of mokabi wood.
• Use: for carving food bowls

Awls

Metal awls were used in skin-working and basketry, as well as for personal use such as removing thorns. The wooden sheath protects the sharp point of the awl, and the carving reflects the individuality and value attached to these personal accessories

Awl

• Cultural affiliation: Naron, Central San
• Place: Ghansi, Botswana
• Acquisition: purchased from Mr F. W. Taylor, 1966
• Materials: metal, wood

Awl

• Vernacular name: singanu
• Cultural affiliation: Kalanga
• Place: Zimbabwe
• Acquisition: presented by Mr S. Weil, 1892
• Materials: metal, wood, hide
• Use: worn by a man on a necklet or girdle, and used to pierce skins for stitching.

Awl & Tweezers

• Vernacular name: ?osata/omuato
• Cultural affiliation: Ambo
• Place: Namibia
• Acquisition: presented by Mr D. Kisch, 19th century
• Materials: metal, hide and sinew
• Use: the tweezers were used for depilatory purposes

Tongs

• Cultural affiliation: Shona
• Place: Zimbabwe
• Acquisition: presented by Mr S. Weil, 1892
• Materials: metal
• Tool for rolling bangles
• Vernacular name: kehodo
• Cultural affiliation: Lobedu
• Place: Lowveld, Northern Province, 1938
• Acquisition: collected and presented to the University of Cape Town by Prof. E. J. Krige; acquired on indefinite loan 1939;
• Materials: horn
• Use: for making spiral bangles.

Photograph: Maker of spiral bangles using the traditional technique of rolling wire with a horn tool on a core of animal hair. GaModjadji, 1973.

Ornaments

Fragments of Metal Jewellery

These fragments of spiral bangles were recovered from the archaeological site of Mapungubwe in the Limpopo River valley. They are made of iron, copper, bronze and gold, and date to about 1100 AD.

Metal was hammered and cut into long thin flat strips or rough wire and wound around a flexible fibre core. This core, made of plant fibre or animal hair, is preserved in some cases by the corroding metal. This technique for making flexible bangles has been in use in southern Africa from at least 1500 years ago until the present.

Arm Ornament

• Vernacular name: lesega
• Cultural affiliation: Lobedu
• Place: Duiwelskloof, Northern Province
• Acquisition: presented by Prof. E. J. Krige, 1970
• Materials: copper wire, interspersed with five pairs of copper beads, wound on an animal hair core
• Use: a legring twisted into two to make a bracelet for a child

Arm Ornament

• Vernacular name: lesega
• Cultural affiliation: Lovedu
• Place: GaModjadji, Northern Province
• Acquisition: collected by P. Davison on S.A. Museum fieldtrip, 1996
• Materials: aluminium wire on an animal hair core
• Use: part of a set of arm ornaments for dancing

Necklace

• Cultural affiliation: unidentified
• Place: from Southern Africa
• Acquisition: presented by Mr D. Kisch, 19th century
• Materials: iron beads, glass beads, carnivore teeth.

These iron beads were made by a variation of the technique used for making spiral bangles, except that the original spiral has been twisted into a complicated undulating form (illustrated in the enlarged drawing). This required great skill and shows a high level of expertise in metal working and design.

Hair Pin

• Cultural affiliation: South Sotho
• Place: southern Lesotho
• Acquisition: presented by Mr W. Blenkins, 1925
• Materials: metal and bone

hearth and home: hunter-gatherers and herders