Kenya has recreated mirrors by borrowing heavily from nature. Unlike those that utilize leather and beads, these make use driftwood, camphor and wood stained with that rich mahogany, adorned with pieces of brass, cow horn, bone and old coins. All fashioned into intriguing designs including finger rings, masks, iguanas, leafs and spiral shaped adornments.
When the raw material is driftwood, for example, curing has to be done to make the wood perfect! This is done to stop the driftwood from leaching. One can soak the wood in salty water for seven days followed by further soaking in fresh water for a whole day and then sun drying. The second way is to boil it for four hours or more and the third is to soak it in chlorine bleach for forty eight hours or more.
After the wood has dried, it is carefully cut and carved into one’s shapes of choice, suitable for framing mirrors. In many cases the wood is furnished with glue to give it a shine then used alongside plain wood to give a sturdy look. Old coins, pieces of keys, shells, and glass can also be glued or nailed onto the wood to birth ancient looks while maintaining the idea of a sea shore!
So when a mirror resurrected by a skilled manufacturer is delivered at your home, it is an absolute spectacle! They can be placed strategically based on the shapes they take. The ones with prominent frames can be placed in the living room to blend with African concepts of interior design, for example. Many beach residents love these pieces. The finished product is poses beauty that just draws you in!
Mirrors adorned with the Maasai cultural themes also stand out because of the intriguing shapes they take and because of the beads that are used to decorate them. The shapes are inspired by objects that are daily parts of a Maasai’s nomadic life, such as a calabash, the sun and various shapes formed by intersections of the branches of trees. Frames made of leather are often thick to make room for various patterns of beads for the sake of the bright red, blue and orange colors to set the tone of any location.
The Maasai and many in the world today are sharpening their skills in the trade of what they are naturally endowed with. They have taken the world by storm in the fashion industry and this they have accomplished while conserving the environment. Their creativity has been taken a notch higher and as a result, sea nostalgia and beautiful works of art in simple home décor, such as mirrors, do not need flights across borders and over seas and oceans! Take your treasure home with you today! Get these beautiful items at www.sokomaasai.com.
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