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Tiny Gold Snail Shell Pendant
By The Remarkable Goldsmiths
Located in Torquay, GB
cowrie shells are quite common all along the coastline here in Devon and we found this absolute beauty of
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Artisan Chain Necklaces
Materials
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$389 / item
Splendid Seven rams Ntomo Mask, Bamana Population, Mali, 1930-1940
Located in Paris, FR
other mask we have, with four horns, is female.
Ségou region, Mali.
Wood, cowrie shells, reptile skin
Category
Vintage 1930s Malian Folk Art Masks
Materials
Shell, Wood
Kuba Woman
s Prestige Hat (Mpaan)
Located in London, GB
Mukyeeng. Embellished with cowrie shells and small blue, red and white beads, this headdress is a rich
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Shell, Beads
Yoruba Ibeji Twin Figure
By Yoruba People
Located in Chicago, IL
period and dressed in beads and cowrie shells. With poised statures, composed expressions, and intricate
Category
Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Iatmul People "Mei" Mask Sepik River New Guinea
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large and powerfully carved Ceremonial Mask from New Guinea. In mineral paints with Cowrie Shell
Category
20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Masks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Fine Early Prestige Kuba Chieftain
s Cap (Laket Mishiing)
Located in London, GB
mishiing) is embellished with cowrie shells and rows of blue, white and black glass beads. The body of the
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Shell, Natural Fiber, Beads
Verre Soufflé - Masque Kuba-Congo - Bois, perles, cauris - Circa 1975
By Vanessa Mitrani
Located in PANTIN, FR
from circa 1975—crafted in wood and embellished with beads and cowrie shells—the piece creates an
Category
Vintage 1970s French Tribal Vases
Materials
Shell, Blown Glass, Wood, Beads
"Ceremonial Hunting Shirt - Yoruba, Nigeria, " Glass Beads, Shells,
Cloth
Located in Milwaukee, WI
. Cowrie shells are particularly significant; at one time they were used as currency. This is. garment made
Category
1940s Folk Art More Art
Materials
Fabric, Glass, Found Objects
Chloé Fall 2016 Embroidered Caftan Dress Look 15 – Runway Clare Waight Keller
By Chloé
Located in Boca Raton, FL
, cowrie shells
- Color palette: Ivory, black, orange, forest green, red
- Construction: Unlined, slips
Category
2010s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
African Masai Beaded Traditional Artifact Wall Decor
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
cowrie shells on each strand.
One of the shell is missing.
Handmade wall decor artifact and vintage a
Category
Late 20th Century Kenyan Folk Art More Folk Art
Materials
Beads
Silver shell candy box w/ 3 embossed cowrie feet
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Silver candy box in the shape of a shell with three feet in the shape of cowries with
Category
20th Century European Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver
$1,125 Sale Price
50% Off
Garra Hook Sculpture on Display Stand Mid-Sepik River Papua New Guinea
Located in Atlanta, GA
composition. This figure, however, has a face in place with eyes inset with a cowrie shell. The figure was
Category
Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Wood
African Yoruba Diviner
s Red Beaded Sash Panel 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
-beaded with Yoruba faces with vertical scarification on the cheeks bordered by cowrie shells indicating
Category
Mid-20th Century Nigerian Folk Art Tribal Art
Materials
Textile, Beads
Jewelry and Dress in Ethiopia, Black and White Photography, Horizontal
By Drew Doggett
Located in US
"Untitled 10"
A Hamar woman wears a leather apron adorned with cowrie shells and beads of her
Category
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Jewelry and Dress in Ethiopia, Black and White Photography, Horizontal
By Drew Doggett
Located in US
"Untitled 10"
A Hamar woman wears a leather apron adorned with cowrie shells and beads of her
Category
2010s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
African Yoruba Diviner
s Red Beaded Panel Sash 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
bordered by cowrie shells indicating wealth and status.
A symbol of spiritual authority, this beaded panel
Category
Mid-20th Century Nigerian Folk Art Tapestries
Materials
Textile, Beads
Opon Igede Ifa - Divination Bowl, Yoruba People, Nigeria, Early 20th Century
By Yoruba People
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
trade. These include a divination tray, beads, cowrie shells, kola or palm nuts, divination chains, and
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Lega Bwami Society Mask on Display Stand with Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
, with a thin and long nose, and small opening of a mouth and eyes, shaped like cowrie shells. A nice
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Pair of African Cowrie Fertility Idol Figures
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of African (19/20th Cent) seated Cowrie fertility idol figures with a surface of small shells
Category
20th Century African Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Shell, Wood, Paint
$22,500 / set
In the Kingdom Of Neptune. Acrylic painting, horizontal, sea, fish, turquoise
Located in Oslo, NO
plasticity and mysterious presence. The center of the composition is a spotted cowrie shell, hidden among the
Category
Early 2000s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Vintage Wood Box with Sez Shells Tony Doucquett Style
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage carved wood encrusted with Sez shells cowrie in the style of Tony Doucquett. Two tiers box
Category
Vintage 1960s American American Classical Decorative Boxes
Materials
Shell, Wood
Vintage Boho Monumental Shell Encrusted Obelisks - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
shells, from delicate cowries and tiny spiral cones to larger scallop and clam shells, all intricately
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Obelisks
Materials
Shell, Resin
1970s Shell-Encrusted Mirror, Coastal Folk Art Frame
Located in West Palm Beach, US
1970s Shell-Encrusted Mirror, Coastal Folk Art Frame, 30” High by 24” Wide
Description:
Charming
Category
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Wall Mirrors
Materials
Shell, Wood
Tantra
Underwater series, Ink
Water Color, Blue, Black, Brown "In Stock"
By Sunil Das
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
with
odd shapes and forms, slimy tadpoles, shells and cowries with their toothy undersides. They
seem
Category
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Materials
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
Georgian Cowrie Shell Gold Bracelet
Located in London, GB
The 6 Cowrie Shells are set in hand made Gold Canatille Work frames, alternating with Gold
Category
Antique 1770s British More Bracelets
Materials
18k Gold
West African Cowrie Shell Necklace on Leather
Located in Oradell, NJ
Offered for sale is this West African cowrie shell necklace made of leather, silver metal, and
Category
20th Century More Necklaces
Women
s Tribal African Loin Cloth/Skirt with Cowrie Shells
Located in Oradell, NJ
-colored beads, and cowrie shells The cowry or cowrie shells figure prominently in many West African
Category
20th Century Skirts
Pair of Georgian Cowrie Shell Gold Earrings
Located in London, GB
The Cowrie Shells set in hand made Gold Canatille Work and above each is a Gold Buttercup and
Category
Antique 1780s British More Earrings
Materials
18k Gold, 9k Gold
Gold and Warm White Cowrie Shell Hoop Earrings
By JERI SENA
Located in Northglenn, CO
Cowrie shells are symbols of womanhood and magic. These gorgeous hoops are crafted of genuine
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Hoop Earrings
Materials
Brass
20th Century African Dan Hand Carved Mask from Liberia with Cowrie Shells
Located in Atlanta, GA
20th century African Dan hand carved mask from Liberia with Cowrie Shells. From the Ivory Coast
Category
20th Century Liberian Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Shell, Fabric, Wood
William IV Silver-Mounted Cowrie Shell Snuffbox, circa 1825
By John Reilly
Located in London, GB
Beautifully fashioned William IV silver-mounted Cowrie shell snuffbox,
circa 1825. Marked with
Category
Antique 1820s British William IV Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Materials
Silver
Double Strand Choker Necklace with Ancient Egyptian Cowrie Shell Center, Gold
Located in Bloomington, IN
a lapis lazuli cowrie shell bead in the center. The lapis shell is 1.5 cm in length, 1.14 cm in
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier American Artist Choker Necklaces
Materials
Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Gold
Louis Durot French Post War Artist Cowrie Shell Sofa Settee Sculpture in Polymer
By Louis Durot
Located in Atlanta, GA
cowrie shell sofa settee. The settee is constructed of a polymer / polyurethane foam of Mr. Durot's
Category
Late 20th Century French Post-Modern Sectional Sofas
Materials
Foam
Two Yoruba Tribe twin Figures with Cowrie Cloaks, Nigeria
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Two well-loved Yoruba twin figures "ibeji" with cloaks made of cowrie shells on cloth, Nigeria
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Naga Tribe Headhunter
s Shawl, circa 1900
Located in Hudson, NY
Hand-embroidered Shawl with cowrie shells, a monetary system at the time period. The headhunter at
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Quilts and Blankets
Materials
Shell, Wool
Yoruba Twin Figures with Cowrie Cloaks, Nigeria, Africa, Early 20th Century
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Two twin figures "ibeji", wearing cloaks covered with cowrie shells, Yoruba People, Nigeria, Africa
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
90s Black Alaia Wide Black Shell Embellished Belt
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Back buckled wide belt with cowrie shells interspersed between stitched piping circa 1990s. By the
Category
1990s French Belts
Angel Skin Conch Shell Beaded Necklace
Located in Chesterland, OH
.
Sea shells are that is considered to be lucky. Conch shells or cowrie shells have a special meaning
Category
Mid-20th Century Bahamian Beaded Necklaces
Sap of earth n
blood, leaky, which adaptation may deliver one baby...
By Rina Banerjee
Located in San Francisco, CA
, wood, glass, Murano glass, silver leaf, cowrie shells, sea shells, taxidermy eyes, vintage saris
Category
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Materials
Steel, Silver Leaf
Vintage Ethiopian Handwoven Harari Grass Basket
Located in New York, NY
design, with a leather bound foot and a rim with four straps decorated with three applied cowrie shells
Category
Early 20th Century Ethiopian Tribal Decorative Baskets
Materials
Leather, Reed
Preternatural passage came from wet whiteness and mercantile madness...
By Rina Banerjee
Located in San Francisco, CA
, wooden spindle, cowrie shells, red thread, vintage birch wood shoe form (size 9-10), Bengali saree
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Ancient Egyptian Mycenean Period Carnelian Shells with Matching Gold Shell Beads
Located in Bloomington, IN
Eleven ancient carnelian beads and ten gold beads, all shaped to resemble cowrie shells. There are
Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier American Artist Beaded Necklaces
Materials
Carnelian, Gold
Lele Face Mask
Located in Des Plaines, IL
, cotton, wool, cowrie shells, glass beads HxW: 10 x 9 inches
Each piece of tribal art is hand carved
Category
20th Century More Art
Materials
Wood, Wool, Cotton
$2,000
Yet Beaded Kuba Belt
Located in Portland, ME
objects. Each object is typically represented twice, one made of cowrie shells and another made of beads
Category
20th Century Congolese Collectible Jewelry
$7,500
We, Gere Mask
Located in Des Plaines, IL
paraphernalia such as cowrie shells, bells, nails and feathers were attached. These applied pieces were thought
Category
20th Century More Art
Materials
Copper
$2,500
Hand of A Director
Photographer
Located in Detroit, MI
. Subjects represent themselves wearing traditional Black hairstyles and accessories such as cowrie shells
Category
2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Digital
A Pair of Shell Obelisks
Located in Montecito, CA
Manerba. Each column stands an impressive seven feet high and is covered with a mix of cowrie and clam
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Shell, Wood
$2,600 / set
1970s Shell Table by Antony Redmile
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
feet, the shaped top and body encrusted throughout with cowrie, scallop and clam shells.
Please
Category
Late 20th Century British Tables
Materials
Shell
Louis Durot French Post War Artist Red Lips L
echauffeuse Sofa Settee Sculpture
By Louis Durot
Located in Atlanta, GA
. Search HKFA on 1stdibs, view my storefront and see the other work by Louis Durot, an oversized cowrie
Category
Late 20th Century French Post-Modern Sectional Sofas
Materials
Foam
Antique Multi-Strand Coral Nagaland Necklace
Located in Chesterland, OH
tusks, shells, ivory, conch shells, and cowries.
Nagas believe that the beaded necklaces contain all
Category
Vintage 1920s Indian Beaded Necklaces
Materials
Coral
African Cowrie Shell and Glass Bead Bib
Located in Gresham, OR
African Cowrie Shell and Glass Bead Bib with Jute String Tie
Category
20th Century Unknown Ties
African Cowrie Shell and Glass Bead Bib
Located in Gresham, OR
African Cowrie Shell and Glass Bead Bib with Jute String Tie
Category
20th Century Unknown Neckties
Mounted Cowrie Shell Necklace from Papua New Guinea
Located in New York, NY
Hand made large mounted cowrie shell necklace woven onto a cotton back from Papua New Guinea.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Tribal Mounted Objects
Materials
Cotton, Shell, Wood
2000S African Beaded Harness Top With Cowrie Shells
Located in New York, NY
2000S African Beaded Harness Top With Cowrie Shells
Category
Early 2000s Scarves
A White Cowrie Shell Hanging Light, Papau New Guinea
Located in London, GB
Papua New Guinea, 20th century.
An unusual twentieth century cowrie shell hanging light, with four
Category
20th Century Papua New Guinean Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Shell
19th Century Scottish Silver Mounted Cowrie Shell Snuff Box
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Georgian cowrie shell snuff box
Date : c1820
Period : George III / Regency
Origin
Category
Antique 1830s Scottish Regency Sterling Silver
Materials
Silver
Georgian Sterling Silver-Mounted Cowrie Shell with Hinged Lid Snuff Box
Located in New York, NY
Georgian, sterling silver-mounted Cowrie shell snuff box with hinged lid, London, 1815. Measures: 3
Category
Antique 19th Century British Sterling Silver
Materials
Sterling Silver
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Cowrie Shell For Sale on 1stDibs
Find many varieties of an authentic cowrie shell available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of shell, wood and fabric, every cowrie shell was constructed with great care. There are 93 variations of the antique or vintage cowrie shell you’re looking for, while we also have 24 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect cowrie shell — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. A cowrie shell made by Scandinavian Modern designers — as well as those associated with Georgian — is very popular. A well-made cowrie shell has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Made in Ratio, Shellman Scandinavia and antique textiles galleries are consistently popular.
How Much is a Cowrie Shell?
Prices for a cowrie shell start at $120 and top out at $98,000 with the average selling for $1,480.
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