Africa is a country well known for its incredible works of art. Their stone and wood sculptures are known to most, but as of late the most appealing works of art are their amazing beadwork. This technique has been past down through the generations hundreds of years in fact.

Some of the ancient artifacts have been made using anything from seeds to eggs, stones, and metals. However, in today’s world most of the beadwork is done using glass beads.

First came the discovery of glass beads by the Egyptians, eventually trade routes were set up with the people of South Africa, trading was common, Ivory and and other valuables were traded for glass beads.

The South Afrcans began constructing objects using the glass beads with the help of wire. The designs they created were absolutley beautiful, the designs included cars, flowers, and almost any animal. The frame is made of a galvanised wire and then decorated 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.

In the past colored copper wire was used in the many creative designs. But alot of the designs today are made from steel wire. These designs can be anything from musical instruments, animal, bicycles. The designs can be found anywhere from studios to markets and road side stands. These brilliant sculptures would make the ideal gift.

Seeing these wonderful designs, will amaze you, the talent the creativity and the passion is evident each sculpture. Each creation is magnificent, you will see designs such as butterflies, spider webs these are in wall art forms to hang in childrens bedrooms. Bowls in colourful wire designs, bracelets and animals of all size and colour.

Zulu artisans and crafters began selling their designs in public markets instead of roadside stands in order to drive more customers; however many wire artists realized the vale of the sculptures and opened up art shops and galleries to display their creative designs.

If you know someone who fancies cultural art from many different cultures, or just one particular culture, wire art would make a unique gift, in their collection, it will definitely draw attention to any art collection, with such prominent colors.