Belt c. 20th century

This beaded belt was crafted by an anonymous artist, and when you look closely, you see it's not just ornamentation; it's a story told in tiny, deliberate gestures. Imagine the maker, thread in hand, carefully placing each bead, choosing colours—soft creams and warm oranges—to build a pattern that feels both ancient and personal. You can see the flowers and geometric shapes. I think of the hours, days maybe, it took to complete it, the artist pouring their heart and soul into this intricate work. There's a rhythm in the repetition, a meditative quality that reminds me of Agnes Martin's grids or the obsessive mark-making of outsider artists. It's like they're all trying to capture something intangible. You can feel the artist making it, pulling everything together, and you can sense the person who might have worn it, too. So many stories in just one object!