Cowrie Shell Beaded Necklace Ethnic Handmade Vintage Jewelry

Vintage Unsigned

1 in stock

Necklaces & Pendants

Vintage Unsigned

$175.00
-
+
$175.00
Add to wishlist

Ethnic beading created with genuine cowrie shells each individually placed and linked to metal chain on this unique jewelry piece, unmarked treasure

This necklace has a couple of very uncommon features. The clasp closure that slides open on a v-shape and lock the ring back in (only time I ever saw this in 30+ years collecting jewelry) and the cowrie have a more flat one side which has been "closed" with  "clay?" not sure as its sealed and I can't really feel that underline material

Approx. measurements: 25 inches around neck

True Vintage Jewelry, exact era unknown

Very good vintage condition, no damages, nothing missing, all authentic, genuine, functional and ready to wear

It will be carefully wrapped to ensure its safe travels. It would make a wonderful vintage gift to many jewelry collectors!

talkingfashion: Cowrie shell was also known as Shell money. It is a medium of exchange similar to money that was once commonly used in many parts of the world. The use of shells in trade began as direct commodity exchange, the shells having value as body ornamentation. The distinction between beads as commodities and beads as money has been the subject of debate among economic anthropologists.

Some form of shell money appears to have been found on almost every continent: America, Asia, Africa and Australia. The shell most widely used worldwide as currency was the shell of Cypraea moneta, the money cowry. This species is most abundant in the Indian Ocean, and was collected in the Maldive Islands, in Sri Lanka, along the Malabar coast, in Borneo and on other East Indian islands, and in various parts of the African coast from Ras Hafun to Mozambique. Cowry shell money was important at one time or another in the trade networks of Africa, South Asia, and East Asia.

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 15 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the 'Complete Orders' link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.

Recently Viewed Products

//-->