Zulu women learn the art of three-dimensional beadwork when they are young, and their many years of practice with community elders translates into astounding sculptures. With no shortage of wildlife to study, they perfect the shape, form and colors of forest and jungle animals before they transform them into large and powerfully designed wire bases that hold the weight of many thousands of glass beads.Beadwork is a form of communication for the Zulu people, a way to identify, to accord or claim prestige. The more beads loaded onto the body, the greater the sign of wealth. Beadwork often conveys a person’s age, gender, marital status, even position in the community. And artists embed messages in their work with color and design, for everyday use and for important occasions such as weddings, dances, or ceremonies, like a young girl’s coming of age. A young unmarried woman or man wearing elaborate beadwork does so to attract attention of potential partners. During the transition from animals before they transform them into large and powerfully designed wire bases that hold the weight of many thousands of glass beads. During the transition from single to married women, beadwork is shown through a beaded cloth apron worn over a pleated leather skirt.Before Arab and European traders introduced glass to the southern cone of Africa centuries ago, natives used ostrich shells, wood, seeds, bone, and berries, all natural materials for their ceremonial and everyday beadwork. Today, Zulu artists take months to create major pieces. They and their families rely on sales to live. Many join cooperatives, where they pool materials and profits. In the gallery, you’ll find three museum quality works, all indigenous creatures: an African Buffalo, an Impala, and the majestic African Fish Eagle.