Ethnic Design Collection Reto Zehnder

These cache-sexes, called Bainsouie are formed by a brass plate with copper decorations.  Long fine iron chains are attached to this plate. The waistband is formed by red, blue and yellow glass beads with a small bell in the middle. If traditionally worn on a hip belt, they can also be worn as necklace. See photo in Vanishing Africa by Angela Fisher (page 138)

These cache-sexes, called Bainsouie are formed by a brass plate with copper decorations.  Long fine iron chains are attached to this plate. The waistband is formed by red and blue glass beads. If traditionally worn on a hip belt, they can also be worn as necklace. See photo in Vanishing Africa by Angela Fisher (page 138)

Sinle plate, without belt, of a Kapsiki cach sexe.

These cache-sexes, called Bainsouie are formed by a brass plate with copper decorations.  Long fine iron chains are attached to this plate. The waistband is formed by red, blue and yellow glass beads with a small bell in the middle. If traditionally worn on a hip belt, they can also be worn as necklace. See photo in Vanishing Africa by Angela Fisher (page 138)

These cache-sexes, called Bainsouie are formed by a brass plate with copper decorations.  Long fine iron chains are attached to this plate. The waistband is formed by red, blue and yellow glass beads with a phallic brass element in the middle. If traditionally worn on a hip belt, they can also be worn as necklace. See photo in Vanishing Africa by Angela Fisher (page 138)

This iron cache-sexe is made out of 13 iron "teeth" linked together and ending with a ring on the top end through which passes the belt. These are ancient pieces; beaded aprons long ago replaced the original of iron aprons.

Old blue, yellow and white pubic Apron from Northern Cameroon. It shows multiple cracks and tears due to the prolonged use.

Nice large pubic apron from Northern Cameroon. It has some cracks and tears, which can be repaired, due to its age and long use.

Rare, large and colorful pubic apron from Northern Cameroon. Unique in its size and even with a small tear in the lower part, this remains an outstanding piece in quite a fair condition. Collected early 80ties in Northern Cameroon.

Beautiful, colorful pubic apron (cache-sexe) in fair condition for its age. This apron can become an interesting design item. All aprons have been collected in the early 80ties in Northern Cameroon.

Nice blue, yellow and white pubic Apron from Northern Cameroon. The lower fringe shows some tears, due to the long use, but remains an interesting design element.

This rather small cache-sexe with three lines of red and blue triangles has some small imperfection easy to repair. The pubic apron has lovely fringes of cowrie shells and an attractive belt.

Heavy coiled yellow brass bracelet, origin uncertain probably Fulani but could also be further East in Southern Soudan or Ethiopia. The bracelet is composed of 7 coils and is in perfect condition, an excellent collector's piece or for exquisite wearing.

A beautiful strand of antique  glass and a few stone and faience beads probably from the early 1900's. It is composed of approx. 80 beads, among them some millefiori and other great beads. The strand is mounted on traditional vegetable fibers.

A strand is made out of 35 very large translucid light green glass beads. These are the largest beads in our collection.They are made using an ancestral technique of grinding up found vintage glass bottles into a powder and pouring into clay casting for melting. These beads have been collected 30 years ago. The necklace can be worn as such or the beads used for new creations.

A strand is made out of 40  large translucid dark green glass beads. They are made using an ancestral technique of grinding up found vintage glass bottles into a powder and pouring into clay casting for melting. The necklace can be worn as such or the beads used for new creations.

A strand is made out of 25 translucid blue glass beads. They are made using an ancestral technique of grinding up found vintage glass bottles into a powder and pouring into clay casting for melting. The necklace can be worn as such or the beads used for new creations.

A strand is made out of 40  large light yellows glass powder beads from Ghana. They are made using an ancestral technique of grinding up found vintage glass bottles into a powder and pouring into clay casting for melting. The necklace can be worn as such or the beads used for new creations.

A strand is made out of 39 translucid light green an blue beads. They are made using an ancestral technique of grinding up found vintage glass bottles into a powder and pouring into clay casting for melting. The necklace can be worn as such or the beads used for new creations.

White and brownish conical agate beads collected in the 1970ties in West Africa.

White and brownish conical agate beads collected in the 1970ties in West Africa.

Carnelian beads collected in the 1970ties in West Africa. Large oblong red carnelian beads (see picture). 

Carnelian beads collected in the 1970ties in West Africa. Large oblong red carnelian beads (see picture). These beads are real antiques African beads, with sign of long use.

Carnelian beads collected in the 1970ties in West Africa. Large oblong red carnelian beads (see picture). These beads arte more recent, but still have been worn. Some of them have a beautiful design.

Carnelian beads collected in the 1970ties in West Africa. Large oblong red carnelian beads (see picture). These beads are more recent, but still have been worn.

Carnelian beads collected in the 1970ties in West Africa. These are real antique beads, with signs of long use.

Beads in different sizes and shapes, see picture

Carnelian beads collected in the 1970ties in West Africa. Oblong red carnelian beads (see picture). These are real antique beads, with signs of long use.

The bead shows sign of lon use.