Fantastic works of art come out of Africa, they are renowned for them. The most appealing works as of late are their brilliant beadwork. This beadwork technique has been past down for hundreds of years, they have mastered this beadwork technique to a tee. This incredible art form has to be seen to be believed.
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.
Since the discovery of glass by the Egyptians, trade routes were set up with the people of South Africa to trade these glass beads for ivory and other valuables.
The South Africans engineered the form of using these glass beads with the use of wire, to make some of the most beautiful designs, among them were cars, and radios, beaded roses, and almost any animal that you can think of. The frame is made of wire and filled in with colored beads.
Many families were very poor and could not afford beads, so toys were made from just wire. The art of using just wire became so popular that now a tourist can find wire art shaped into everything from Saxophones to large cars, and many with very great detail, some may even have a working steering wheel. Working with wire has become a Zulu wire working revolution. Even security guards started decorating their “knobkerries” with bright and colorful wire, just to keep them awake during the long hours of the night watch.
Even though copper color coded wires where used in creating wire art, one can now find wire sculptures of musical instruments, animals, bicycles, and many other sculptures fashioned from steel wire, and can also be found not only is a studio, but also at flea markets, and roadside stands. These would make fantastic and unique gifts for anyone.
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 that appreciates a unique gift, then you cant go past these wire sculptures. Whether it be a wall design for a childs bedroom, or a novelty car for that car enthusiast, or that unbelievable motorbike for bike lovers, their are wire art designs to suit everybody. These creative sculptures with such prominent colours will be the talking piece of anyones room.
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