The History of African Heritage Jewelry

Explore the stunning designs of the African Heritage jewellery created and designed by Alan Donovan.

Barney HassanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

African Heritage Jewelry at African Heritage House

This is a collection of jewelry designed by Alan Donovan. They are made of materials found all over Africa. Also in this collection is the elaborate beadwork from the Akamba of Eastern Kenya.

ImanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

African Heritage Jewellery

Iman, the most famous model to come out of Africa, modelling African Heritage jewelry.

Photo by Peter Beard.

Turkana collection by Alan Donovan for Banana Republic USA by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Alan Donovan and Banana Republic

Alan Donovan also collaborated with Banana Republic selling jewelry and accessories of his design. This is a Banana Republic catalogue showcasing Alan Donovan's design inspired by the Turkana.

African Heritage "All of Africa" necklace collection by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Necklaces

Alan Donovan has also designed and created jewelry under the African Heritage Jewelry label. The "All of Africa" necklaces shown here are so called as they are made of semiprecious stones and components from all over the continent. 

African Heritage publicity photoAfrican Heritage House

Model wearing an African Heritage collar of Egyptian Faience beads, based on a queen's collar from Alexandria, created for "World on a String" exhibition. Photo by Diane Freiburg.

African Heritage necklace of camel bone beads, silver plated beads, with coconut shells by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Coconut shell and camel bone necklace

This necklace is made of camel bone pendants from Sudan, African amber beads from Mali and coconut shell from Nigeria.

African Heritage necklace of bone, amber and leather by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Camel bone pendant

Made of carved bone pendants by the Dinka of Southern Sudan, and African amber, coconut shell from Nigeria and leather.

African Heritage necklace of brass beads and a brass cross pendant by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

African Heritage necklace

Made of Ethiopian brass cross, cast brass elements from Baoule, Ivory Coast, and Kirdi, Cameroon with African amber.

African Heritage bat necklaceAfrican Heritage House

Bat Necklace
An early African Heritage jewelry design created from a fetish priestess’ armband in the form of a bat with tiny bells from Benin, West Africa, with “false coral” beads. Photo by Joel Lipton

African Heritage necklace of camel bone beads, cowrie shells, brass beads, with coconut shells by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Coconut shell necklace with a camel bone pendant

Made from Dinka camel bone pendant, studded with cowrie shells and brass beads, on neck-ring with coconut shell beads, Nigeria.

African Heritage necklace of amber and cast brass beads by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Amber necklace

Made of African amber, cast brass beads made by lost wax technique from Cameroon and Ivory Coast,and ostrich egg shell from Kenya.

African Heritage necklace of leather, beads and amber by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

African Heritage necklace

Made from Fulani leather and metal charms, with old glass trade beads, amber and cowrie shells.

African Heritage necklace made of assorted materials by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

False coral beads necklace with a Surutia pendant

Made of “false coral” glass beads from Nigeria, ostrich egg shell from Turkana, Kenya; Nigerian glass beads, clay beads from the Sahara Desert, cast brass beads, tiny brass beads from the Giriama of Kenya, Czech glass trade beads; false python glass beads from Japan, and the Surutia as a pendant from Maasai married women.

Turkana copper earrings and carnelion beads by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Copper and carnelion necklace

The first African Heritage necklace made by Alan Donovan in 1971; made of Turkana copper earrings, carnelion agates, Giriama brass beads and Akamba copper chains.

Ethiopian silver necklace by Amharic TribeOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Ethiopian silver necklace

An old Ethiopian wedding necklace made of silver or silver alloy, probably from the town of Harar.

African Heritage necklace of assorted semiprecious stones and beads by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

African Heritage Necklace

Made of old glass beads from Idar-Oberstein, Germany to resemble agates; African amber, Nigerian glass beads, clay beads from the Sahara, Czech glass beads, agates and coconut shells.

Crocodile teeth necklace by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

African Heritage Necklace

This necklace is made of crocodile teeth from Lake Turkana, with Giriama wedding beads. This was among the first designs by Alan Donovan in 1971.

African Heritage necklace of amber and cast brass beads by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

African Heritage brass and coconut shell necklace

Made of round cast brass discs from Mali, coconut shell from Nigeria and volcanic clay beads from Lake Chad.

African Heritage earrings of aluminium and dyed camel bone by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

African Heritage Earrings

These earrings have been designed and created by Alan Donovan of African Heritage House. These particular ones are made from camel bone overlaid with incised aluminium. 

African Heritage earrings and necklace set by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Alumimium necklace and earrings set

Aluminium necklace and earrings set based on the Turkana “Aparaparat” earrings with African amber.

African Heritage earrings and necklace set by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Brass necklace and earrings set

Necklace and earring set. Brass earrings based on the Turkana “Aparaparat” earrings with African amber.

African Heritage amber necklace and earrings set by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Brass necklace and earrings set

Necklace and earring set based on a Swahili design: simulated coral beads, Baoule brass beads from Ivory Coast, coconut shell, Nigeria, and corresponding amber earrings.

African Heritage earrings of Porcupine quills and aluminum beads by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Porcupine quill earrings

Made from Porcupine quills and hand-hammered aluminum beads, made from old cooking pots by the Gabbra of Kenya.

African Heritage earrings of Kisii soapstone, glass beads and coconut shells by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

African Heritage soapstone earrings

Made from the famous Kisii soapstone from Kenya, glass beads, coconut shell from Nigeria; these earrings have been dyed and incised in a ostrich pattern.

African Heritage earrings of brass and beads by Alan DonovanOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Brass earrings

They are based on Turkana designs and are made of Venetian glass beads and Czech and Venetian glass trade beads.

Akamba beadwork collection by Akamba, KenyaOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Alan Donovan's collection of Akamba Beadwork

The Akamba from Kenya are noted for their elaborate beadwork. White, known as the colour of fertility, is the background for almost all Akamba beadwork. The most common beadwork patterns are a variation of triangles, diamonds, arrows, double triangles and double arrows as the Akamba were the guides and hunters of East Africa.

African Heritage Band in Akamba beadwork by Akamba, KenyaOriginal Source: African Heritage House

This is the African Heritage Band in Alan Donovan's collection of Akamba beadwork

Akamba beaded necklace by Akamba, KenyaOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Akamba beaded collar

This is a beaded collar worn by women.

Akamba beaded necklace by Akamba, KenyaOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Akamba beaded collor

This is a simple collor worn by women.

Akamba beaded necklace by Akamba, KenyaOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Akamba beaded collar

This is a simple collar worn by women.

Akamba women's beaded waist cloth by Akamba, KenyaOriginal Source: African Heritage House

Akamba beaded loin-cloth with hand-made chains

Akamba women wear beaded costumes during celebrations.

Credits: Story

Curated by:
Magunga Williams; writer and blogger [www.magunga.com]
Martin K. Maitha; writer [www.obiterdicter.com]

Photography by:
Kabutha Kago [http://kabuthakago.com/]
Alan Donovan [http://africanheritagehouse.info/]
David Beatty [http://davidbeattyphotography.format.com/about]

Associated Manager:
Fred Kithinzi of Belva Digital [http://www.belva.co.ke/]

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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