Ndoro Single Band Ring

We draw on The Ndoro, an ancient Zimbabwean symbol, for this chunky sterling silver ring.

The Ndoro is a symbol that I have always been fascinated with and even more so when I did some research on it.

Apparently during the height of the Monamtopa Kingdom, sometime between the 14th and the 17th century, it was worn on the forehead or on the chest by the people of this kingdom.  The number of Ndoros a person had indicated their wealth, status and authority in the community.

Originally it was made from a seashell but when the Portuguese traders in the 16th century realized its value they started to make them from porcelain and ceramic and used them to trade in our area.  So most Ndoros that you will find from that time in Zimbabwe are in fact man-made.

Symbols of a similar pattern are found in many cultures around the world.

We lovingly wrap each ring in hessian and package it in our round sisal baskets. Due to the handmade nature of the baskets and the organic material used – colour and pattern may vary. Our baskets are made by women from Lupane and Matopas who belong to groups that promote fair trade and self-sufficiency.