Maasai Leather Storage Bag, Based

Shaped like a horseshoe with a strap across the top, and dotted with small colored beads.

This storage bag is Maasai, from Kenya, East Africa, and dates to the 20th C. It is leather, mounted on a base. Maasai households have long made bags, containers and garments from hide, often decorated with beads in the colors for which Maasai adornment is known. The dark brown leather is cut in a broad U shape with two tall arms joined by a thin leather strap. Stitched lines trace the outline and form three small arches along the lower edge. Single beads in red, blue, yellow and white are set at intervals, with a small beaded circle at center. It is 18 inches wide, 6 deep and 21.5 high.

Practical first, decorated second, handsome throughout.