Ethiopian Medicine Man Necklace Jk Brown Collection

Stunning Ethiopian Medicine Man necklace! Featuring Skunks, Russian blues, Padres, Feathers, Camel bone, Ethiopian Surfboards, Vaseline, Red Feathers and many more!

The Ethiopian Medicine Man Necklace, originating from the Omo Valley Tribes in southern Ethiopia, holds cultural and spiritual significance within these communities. Crafted from animal bones, such as cattle or goat bones, the bone stick pendant is adorned with intricate carvings, symbols, and embellishments that carry cultural and spiritual meaning. In the Omo Valley Tribes' traditional medicine practices, these bone sticks serve as healing tools with perceived spiritual and medicinal properties. Traditional healers, known as shamans or medicine men/women, utilize them in rituals and ceremonies to diagnose and treat illnesses. The round circles with dots on the wood stick, known as "protection eyes," act as charms to ward off the evil eye, reflecting the rich tapestry of Ethiopian culture. The unique pendant attached to the wood stick is described as adorned with beautiful decorations and colors, likely carrying symbolic meaning and representing the shaman's connection to the spiritual realm or specific cultural beliefs. The necklace serves as a fascinating and significant item, showcasing the diversity of traditional medicine practices and artifacts in Ethiopian tribal cultures.

This strand is not intended to be a ready-to-wear necklace. Although the strand can be worn "as is," the string holding it together is not durable and may break with use. For this reason, we recommend that you restring the beads before wearing them.

Provenance: JK Brown Collection

Kathie and Jerry Brown have been collecting trade beads for more than 50 years. They had a business selling them for many years, called “Thunder and Lightning.” According to Jerry, “Kathie was the lightning, and I was the thunder!” Their collecting began in 1967 when they met a Peace Corps volunteer who was selling his collection to finance a school for African children- and the Browns bought it all. Over the years, they’ve amassed thousands of stands of Venetian and other European trade beads, as well as made-in-Africa beads and jewelry. They sold at Mountain Man rendezvous and other events. Africa Direct is very proud to be the new owner of this extraordinary collection.

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