Cowrie shells cascade necklace

Description

Exotic bib necklace handmade with Senegal cowrie shells. Multistrand sea shell necklace. Length of the necklace from clasp 15 inches (38 cm.)

The cowrie shell is thought to be one of the world’s oldest currencies. In Ancient Africa, they were traded for goods just like the dollar is today, and their use quickly spread to other civilizations. However, these small sea shells have a much deeper meaning.
According to African legends, cowrie shells represent the protective power of the Ocean Goddess Yemaya. They were fashioned into jewelry by women all over Western Africa as a symbol of fertility, womanhood, and successful births.
Royals from African and American cultures also wore rows of these shells to signify wealth, prosperity, and protection. According to the ancient Hausa proverb: “Whoever is patient with a cowrie shell will one day have thousands of them.”