Cowrie Shell
to
16
182
44
159
55
45
32
26
21
17
15
12
10
9
9
8
5
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
2
2
Sort By
Vintage African Waist Belt Decorated with Cowries Sea Shells
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage African waist Belt decorated with cowrie seashells.
Cowrie shells are symbols of fertility
Category
Mid-20th Century Central African Belts
Shell Necklace from Papua New Guinea
Located in New York, NY
Handmade large mounted cowrie shell necklace woven onto a cotton back from Papua New Guinea
Category
2010s Papua New Guinean Tribal Collectible Jewelry
Materials
Metal
Shell and Seed Belt from Papua New Guinea
Located in New York, NY
Cowrie shell and seed belt from Papua New Guinea. Triangular in shape, double sided and mounted on
Category
Early 2000s Indonesian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Shell
Money Cowrie
Macramé Necklace on Stand, Papua New Guinea
Located in New York, NY
A male necklace from the Asmat Village, Papua New Guinea.
Tiny money cowrie shells seamlessly sewn
Category
Early 2000s Indonesian Tribal Mounted Objects
Materials
Shell, Cotton
African Dinka Beaded Vest, Mid-20th Century, Sudan
Located in Austin, TX
beads, fiber, and cowrie shells, mid 20th century, Dinka peoples, Sudan.
This extraordinary garment
Category
Vintage 1960s Sudanese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Metal
Elephant Trunk Mask
Headdress
Located in New York, NY
, composed of intricately beaded geometric designs and cowrie shells. On red cloth base and trimmed with
Category
20th Century Congolese Mounted Objects
Materials
Shell, Textile, Raffia, Beads
Antique authentic African abstract tribal art, Fali doll, Cameroon, Africa
Located in Norwich, GB
glass beads, cowrie shells and coins.
Dolls from the Fali people in Cameroon are abstracted sculptures
Category
Mid-20th Century Abstract Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Leather, Glass, Wood
Ifá Divination Board
Located in Richmond, VA
patterns, snakes, cowrie shells and other items around the edge of the board. Heavy wood, 10" diameter
Category
20th Century Nigerian Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Tribal Kina Shell Pectoral Necklace, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
. The strap is 19.5" long and is woven from natural fibers with decorative cowrie shells at each
Category
Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art
Pair of African Kuba Cloth Pillows by MLA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
raffia palm fibers, giving it a unique, organic texture. Small white cowrie shells are sewn into the
Category
21st Century and Contemporary African Tribal Pillows and Throws
Materials
Linen, Raffia, Down
Woven Basketry Figural Pectoral Chest Ornament Figure Papua New Guinea tusks
Located in Point Richmond, CA
face with traces of red, black and yellow pigments, rings of attached cowrie shells and tusks.
On
Category
Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Organic Material
Vintage White and Brown Sea Shell Encrusted Rectangular Wood Box with Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
and brown cowrie shells. Shells are arranged in a lined or striped pattern around the body, and a
Category
20th Century Philippine Folk Art Decorative Boxes
Materials
Shell, Wood
Early to Mid-20th Century Tribal Cache-Sexe, Mandara Mountains, Cameroon
Located in Point Richmond, CA
worn by married women and the cowrie shells make a gentle sound when the wearer moves. The cache-sexe
Category
Mid-20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Shell, Beads
Pair of Northwest Coast Native Carved and Painted Cedar Panels
Located in Atlanta, GA
green. Abalone shell buttons and cowrie shells were used for inlaid highlight. Signed and dated verso
Category
1990s American Native American Native American Objects
Materials
Wood, Paint
African Kuba Helmet Mask on Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
the face, and lavished embellished with trade beads, raffia cloth with cowrie shells and hanging seed
Category
20th Century Congolese Tribal Masks
Materials
Copper
Le Soir Illustre Mai 1949 to Le Soir Illustre August 1949 French Magazines Paris
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
totshi
wood, fibre, cowrie shells
Height 72 cm
Provenance
Gustave E. De
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Books
Materials
Paper
Three Shells - Still Life of Three Shells on a Rich Mahogany Table, Oil on Panel
By Helen Oh
Located in Chicago, IL
The simplicity of "Three Shells" is deceptive. The right cowrie shell is a specimen dating back 70
Category
2010s Realist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Carved Bone and Painted Wood Figure of Chitipati, Mongolia, 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
of amrita (nectar of immortality) at heart level in the other. She stands upon a cowrie shell
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Mongolian Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Leather, Bone, Wood
African Mask
Kanaga
Dogon tribe, Mali C 1950
Located in Paris, FR
made of black strip-woven cloth and red broadcloth strips embroidered with white cowrie-shells; strands
Category
Mid-20th Century Malian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
YVES SAINT LAURENT oversized gilt cowrie seashell necklace
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Organically shaped oversized gilt cowrie sea shell link necklace from Yves Saint Laurent dating to
Category
Late 20th Century French More Necklaces
Large Shell Encrusted Mirror by Redmile
By J. Antony Redmile
Located in Kent, Dover
of tiger cowrie, baby cowrie and scallop shells. Can sit portrait or landscape.
Category
Vintage 1970s English Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Materials
Shell, Mirror, Plywood
African Kuba Bwoom Helmet Mask Kasai Democratic Republic of the Congo
Located in Forney, TX
Republic of the Congo, face with scarification to forehead, broad nose, embellished with cowrie sea shells
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Leather, Shell, Wood, Beads
Antique Multi-Strand Coral Nagaland Necklace
Located in Chesterland, OH
, bronze, boar tusks, shells, ivory, conch shells, corals, and cowries. Among the Nagas, necklaces with
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Multi-Strand Necklaces
Materials
Coral
Kuba Beaded Hat
Located in New York, NY
of costly imported glass beads and cowrie shells are signs of wealth and high status.
Tribal art
Category
20th Century Congolese Tribal Art
Materials
Fabric
$2,000
English silver-gilt mounted cowrie shell vinaigrette
Located in London, GB
A rare early nineteenth century English silver-gilt mounted cowrie shell vinaigrette of the genus
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Sterling Silver
Materials
Sterling Silver
Grand Scale African, Cowrie Shell Necklace Mounted on a Custom Stand
Located in Houston, TX
Grand Scale Cowrie Shell Necklace, Africa, Mounted on Custom Stand. This handsome African necklace
Category
21st Century and Contemporary South African Collectible Jewelry
Materials
Shell
Novelty George 111 Silver Cowrie Shell Snuff Box, Dated circa 1790
Located in London, GB
George 111 silver cowrie shell snuff box, dated circa 1790
Mounted in unmarked silver with a
Category
Antique 1790s English George III Sterling Silver
Materials
Silver
18K Cowrie Shell, Imperial Diopside and Prehistoric Woolly Mammoth Earrings
By Cresta Bledsoe Fine Jewelry
Located in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Oval cut Cowrie Shell paired with striking Imperial Diopside balanced with teardrop Prehistoric
Category
2010s Drop Earrings
Materials
18k Gold
Oscar de la Renta silk chiffon dress w Cowrie Shell detail-Huge Cashmere Throw
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Cloverdale, CA
Oscar de la Renta silk chiffon dress w Cowrie Shell detail with Large Matching Cashmere Throw
Category
1990s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
A very rare George III hallmarked silver cowrie shell vinaigrette
Located in London, GB
A wonderful and very rare George III silver mounted cowrie shell vinaigrette of the genus 'Mauritia
Category
Antique Early 1800s Sterling Silver
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
18th Century Latten Spoon with Cowrie Shell Bowl and Silver Handle
Located in London, GB
Very appealing 18th century latten spoon with cowrie shell bowl and twisted spiral silver handle
Category
Antique 1760s Caribbean Tableware
Materials
Silver
Banjara Shisha, Cowrie and Embroidery Indian Pillows
Located in Los Angeles, CA
: Antique panels, all over cotton embroidery inset into red linen with cowrie shells and red linen
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Pillows and Throws
Materials
Cotton, Linen, Mirror
Needle Point
Embroidery Indian Banjara Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Indian textile with cowrie shell details on edges. Blue linen backing. Feather and down
Category
Vintage 1960s Indian Pillows and Throws
Materials
Cotton, Linen, Shell
Trianon Shell and Sapphire Earclips
By Trianon
Located in New York, NY
The mottled brown, beige and white cowrie shells set at the bases with pale cabochon-cut blue
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Clip-on Earrings
Materials
Sapphire, 18k Gold
Embroidery, Applique, Patchwork Banjara Bag Face Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Indian textile with Cowrie Shell details. 1 Shisha mirror in center. Backed with natural
Category
Vintage 1960s Indian Pillows and Throws
Materials
Cotton, Linen, Shell
Yoruba Beaded Side Table.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage table. Glass beads and cowrie shells. Could be a side table or ottoman.
Category
Late 20th Century Side Tables
Applique Indian Banjara Bag Face Pillow.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Indian textile with applique, called "cut work" in India. Cowrie shell tassels at corners
Category
Vintage 1960s Indian Pillows and Throws
Materials
Cotton, Linen, Shell
African Dance Aprons
Located in New York, NY
framed in shadow box, beaded on leather with cowrie shells on ends and leather ties
Category
20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
$1,800
Indian Banjara Cargo Bag Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large embroidered and quilted linen panel. Muted colors. Cowrie shell trim in center. Mounted on
Category
Vintage 1960s Indian Pillows and Throws
Indian Banjara Cargo Bag Floor Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
stitching and quilting. Cowrie shell trim. Black linen backing. Feather and down fill.
Category
Vintage 1960s Indian Pillows and Throws
Materials
Linen
Two Vintage Indian Banjara Gala Applique Pillows
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gala applique work headpiece with cowrie shells. Central India. Antique French linen backing
Category
Indian Pillows and Throws
Materials
Cotton
Sculptural Rattan Arm Chair Designed by Ramon Castellano for Kalma Furniture
By Kalma Ramon Castellano
Located in Hawthorne, CA
an inlay of two cowrie shells.
Measures: 23.5" W
23.5" arm H
17.5" seat D
18" seat H
37" H.
Category
Vintage 1970s North American Bohemian Armchairs
Materials
Natural Fiber, Rattan
Debating Stool by the Iatmul People
By Iatmul People
Located in Cambridge, MA
New Guinea. Hand carved and painted with masked face motifs featuring cowrie shell eyes. Exact vintage
Category
Antique 19th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Yoruba, Nigeria Beaded Gourd with Lid
Located in Salt Lake City, UT
stylized sun medallions and faces, and accented with bands of cowrie shells. Beads were a sign of wealth
Category
20th Century Nigerian Tribal Art
Materials
Beads
Guro Face Mask Ivory Coast West African Tribal Art
Located in Santa Fe, NM
-lobed coiffure is adorned with banded ring forms and cowrie shells, symbols of prosperity and status
Category
Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Hardwood
Louis Durot French Post War Contemporary Artist Blue Polymer Armchair Sculpture
By Louis Durot
Located in Atlanta, GA
. Search HKFA on 1stdibs, view my storefront and see the other two works by Louis Durot, a Cowrie shell
Category
Late 20th Century French Post-Modern Chairs
Materials
Foam
Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Snakeskin Clutch with Cowrie Shell
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Toronto, ON
Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture snakeskin clutch with large cowrie shell. Linen colour snakeskin
Category
Late 20th Century French Clutches
Pair of Vintage Embroidery African Tribal Lumbar Pillows with Cowries Shells
By Atelier Lam
Located in Oakland Park, FL
applique raffia African artisanal textile decorative lumbar pillows with Cowries shells and wood beads. In
Category
Vintage 1960s Congolese Tribal Pillows and Throws
Materials
Shell, Cotton, Linen, Beads, Raffia
Native American Dance Necklace with Braided Orange Beads White Beads
Cowries
Located in Pahrump, NV
part of the dangle is a series of single-layer orange bead strands ending with natural cowrie shells
Category
Mid-20th Century American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Purple and White African Beaded Belt
Located in Oakland Park, FL
Purple and white African beaded belt with cowrie shells and backed with red Ikat woven textile
Category
Vintage 1980s African Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Shell, Beads
A Decorative Large Sepik River Ancestral Spirit Mask/ Papua New Guinea
Located in Bridport, CT
eyes of antelope, decorated with cowrie shell eyes and fur.
Category
Vintage 1970s Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Fur, Shell, Wood
Vintage Brown and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Textile
Located in Oakland Park, FL
embroidered applique design and tribal woven pattern. Embroidered wood beads and cowrie shells.
In shades of
Category
Vintage 1970s Congolese Tribal Tapestries
Materials
Raffia
Vintage Brown and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Textile Fragment
Located in Oakland Park, FL
.
Patchwork and embroidered applique design and tribal woven pattern. Embroidered wood beads and cowrie shells
Category
Vintage 1970s Congolese Tribal Tapestries
Materials
Raffia
Vintage Brown and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Textile Fragment
Located in Oakland Park, FL
embroidered applique design and tribal woven pattern. Embroidered wood beads and cowrie shells.
In shades of
Category
Vintage 1970s Congolese Tribal Tapestries
Materials
Raffia
Dogon Mask
Located in Montecito, CA
-like piece is an early 20th century example. At one time cowrie shells would have formed a single
Category
Early 20th Century African Masks
Materials
Wood
$600
Vintage Yellow and Black Earth Tones African Applique Kuba Applique Textile
Located in Oakland Park, FL
and embroidered applique design and tribal woven pattern. Embroidered wood beads and cowrie shells
Category
Vintage 1970s Congolese Tribal Tapestries
Materials
Raffia
Vintage Tan and Black Raffia Appliqué Kuba Decorative Pillow
By antique textiles galleries
Located in Oakland Park, FL
tribal pattern and adorned with Cowrie shells. Patchwork technique in shades of camel, natural and black
Category
Vintage 1960s African Tribal Pillows and Throws
Materials
Shell, Jute, Down, Feathers, Cotton, Raffia
- 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Cowrie Shell", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.
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.
More Ways To Browse
1999 Dress
Vintage Waist Belts
Vintage Black Shoulder Bag
Yellow Gown
Long Sleeve Evening Dress
John Galliano 1999
Chloe 2010
Yellow Evening Dress
Yellow Evening Gown
Vintage Gown Yellow
Vintage Metal Bag
Wool Knit Dresses
John Galliano 1999 Dress
John Galliano Knit
Metal Bags
Black Beads Shirt
Wide Black Belt
Galliano Knit Dress