Upcycled Maasai beaded choker and cuff with old coins and Ebony wood.
A statement of Africa, colourful, vibrant and alive with history.
Traditional Maasai beadwork is reimagined through the SuhaniMara Coined in Time Collection, bringing together generations of East African craftsmanship with historical coinage and contemporary silver detailing.
The vivid hand beaded choker and bracelet celebrate the extraordinary colour, pattern and precision associated with Maasai beadwork. By incorporating this beadwork into our designs, we aim to support and celebrate the work of local Maasai artisans, while allowing their craftsmanship to become part of a contemporary piece that can be worn in a new way.
SuhaniMara has upcycled the original beadwork with Sterling Silver fittings and clasps, using Old Ebony wood from Madagascar and old East African 1 Shilling coins. The coins feature two enduring images of Kenya, the African lion and Mount Kenya transforming currency from another era into a tangible connection with the country’s history.
The contrast is intentional: vibrant glass beads against cool silver, dark ebony against aged coinage, traditional handwork alongside modern design. Rather than replacing what came before, each new element is designed to frame and preserve it.
Worn individually or together, these are bold statement pieces that bring different expressions of East Africa into one design Maasai craftsmanship, Kenyan landscape, wildlife, history and contemporary jewellery.
Part of Coined in Time, they embody SuhaniMara’s approach to upcycling with purpose: preserving what already carries a story, supporting the hands that continue traditional craft, and reimagining it for another generation.
As the beadwork is handmade and the historical coins are original, variations in pattern, colour, patina and wear make each piece individual.
