The headband consists of five strings of irregularly faceted iron beads and a leather oval with small iron beads in seven rings sewn onto it. Herero women used to wear such a headband around the three-cornered leather headdress (ecori) when they had children. The traditional leather costume with the iron jewellery of the Herero can be an expression of status, wealth and different phases of life. However, it was only worn in this form until about 1840.