Cowrie Collection

Africa, Ethiopia, Omo River Valley, South Omo, Hamer tribe. Detail of the calabash carried by a Hamer woman

Gnawa musicians - ethnic group inhabiting Morocco and Algeria in the Maghreb. Gnawa music is characterized by instrumentation

Tropical shell still-life

Headdress (feathers, shells, buttons)
HSC181656 Headdress (feathers, shells, buttons) by African School; height:28 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: probably from Congo or Zaire;); Photo © Heini Schneebeli

DDE-90037324
Allied cowrie. Date: 01/03/2005

DDE-90024810
Baitfish schooling around soft coral, Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia. Date: 12/08/2006

Tiger cowrie, Cypraea tigris
6338801 Tiger cowrie, Cypraea tigris by Fries, Adolph (1774-1840) (after); (add.info.: Tiger cowrie, Cypraea tigris. Porcelaine fiore)

UW INDO 1897 13
Rosy Spindle Cowry - Sedam dive site, Seraya, Kubu district, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Indian Ocean Date: 07-Nov-19

UW ET 1814 29
Banded Egg Cowrie - on soft Glomerate Tree Coral (Dendronephthya (Spongodes) sp), night dive - Tasi Tolu dive site, Dili, East Timor (Timor Leste) Date: 25-Feb-19

13131085
Pair of Egg Cowries on coral - Batu Gosoh dive site, Bangka Island, north Sulawesi, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean Date: 24-03-2016

Some examples of odd currency (litho)
6004854 Some examples of odd currency (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Some examples of odd currency)

Measled cowrie, Macrocypraea zebra (Zebra cowry, Cypraea zebra). Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Tiger cowrie, wrinkled cowrie, money cowrie, etc
Tiger cowrie, Cypraea tigris 1, wrinkled cowrie, Nucleolaria nucleus 2, money cowrie, Monetaria moneta 3, and Ellatrivia merces 4, Porcelaines

W B Cownie, Scotland International Rugby player. 1890s

Hat (shells & bone) (see also 181647)
HSC181646 Hat (shells & bone) (see also 181647) by Congolese; height:26 cm; Private Collection; Photo eHeini Schneebeli; African, out of copyright

Hat (shells & bone) (see also 181646)
HSC181647 Hat (shells & bone) (see also 181646) by Congolese; height:26 cm; Private Collection; Photo eHeini Schneebeli; African, out of copyright

Portrait of a Solomon Island cannibal. 1908 (colour litho)
DGC418623 Portrait of a Solomon Island cannibal. 1908 (colour litho) by Hardy, Norman (1864-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: wearing a wreath of white cowries)

Man of the Ohlone or Costanoan people dancing at Mission San Francisco
6339111 Man of the Ohlone or Costanoan people dancing at Mission San Francisco by Choris, Ludwig (Louis) (1795-1828) (after); (add.info)

Pink Dream
Yaron Halevy

East African Woman - Braided Hair, shell necklace
East African Woman with Braided Hair, shell necklace and extensive additional face and neck jewellery. Date: circa 1930s

Hundred-eyed cowrie shells C016 / 6027
Pair of hundred-eyed cowrie (Cypraea argus) shells. This marine gastropod is found across the Indo-Pacific. The name hundred-eyed refers to the particular type of shell pattern

Indonesia, Allied Cowrie Shell (Diminovula Punctata) Eating Soft Coral, Close-Up Colorful Pink Orange A91C

Africa, Ethiopia, Omo River Valley, South Omo, Hamer tribe. Detail of a necklace and cowrie shells worn by a Hamer woman

Africa, Ethiopia, Southern Omo, Labuk, Karo Tribe. The Karo dancers portrayed using a slow shutter speed to highlight the activity

Africa, Ethiopia, Southern Omo, Karo Tribe. Details of a Karo womans skin clothing

SIOUX WOMAN, c1907. Portrait of Lucille, a Sioux woman. Photographed by Edward S. Curtis, c1907

Burkina Faso - Upper Volta, Africa - Samo Dancer
Southern Burkina Faso - Upper Volta, Africa - Dancer of the Samo people. He appears to be playing some form of bowed musical instrument? Date: circa 1910s

Sudanese Woman with Cowry Shell decoration
Sudanese Woman, wearing a fantastic decorated nosering, headdress made out of small white cowrie (cowry) shells and topped with large feathers. Her dress is also edged with small shells and beads

Sudanese Woman in traditional Costume seemingly emerging from a small localised Nile River mist (!) with the pyramids lightly visible in the rear

Decorative arrangement of colorful shells including cowrie, mitra, Peruvian olive and terebellum.. Handcolored engraving from Charles d Orbignys Dictionnaire Universel d Histoire Naturelle

Illustration of Painted Prawn (Alope spinifrons) carrying piece of starfish, Cowrie (Cypraea) snail on harp coral

Gold Beads in the Shape of Cowrie Shells; Unknown; Egypt, Africa; 220 - 100 B.C.; Gold; Object (chain): L: 17 cm (6 11/16 in.)

Picture No. 11091831
Margarita Egg Cowrie Date:

Picture No. 11072719
Cowrie with extended papillae Tanjung Slope dive site, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Cowrie

Picture No. 11072676
Tiger Cowrie on night dive Pantai Parigi dive site, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Tiger Cowrie

Picture No. 11072922
Stigma Egg Cowrie camouflaged on soft coral Nudi Retreat dive site, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Stigma Egg Cowrie

Sudanese old man with a very toothy grin
Sudanese jolly old man bedecked with colourful textiles and strings of small shells with a very toothy grin (or lack thereof!). Date: circa 1910s

Crustacea: Turtle soup: Pearl diving: Catching turtles: Leeches: Tooth powder: Pearl buttons: Crab pots: Shrimpers: Cowrie shell money: Sepia: Tortoiseshell

Strings of Cowrie shells. Through the ages, these have been widely used as a form of currency

Common Egg Cowrie (Ovula ovum) adult, laying string of eggs, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Sunda Islands, Indonesia, July

Top and underside view of Humpback cowrie (Cypraea mauritiana)

Tiger cowries

Eyed cowrie (Cypraea argus), overhead and underside view

Cypraea argus, hundred-eyed cowrie
A pair of hundred-eyed cowries (Cypraea argus). A marine gastropod found across the Indo-Pacific. The name hundred-eyed refers to the particular type of shell pattern

Acacia sp. babul tree
Watercolour by Olivia Fanny Tonge (1858-1949). From one of sixteen sketchbooks presented to the Natural History Museum in 1952

Tiger Cowrie (Cypraea tigris) adult, on black sand at night, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Sunda Islands, Indonesia

Chinese Cowrie (Ovatipsa chinensis) adult, crawling over sand on seabed, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Sunda Islands, Indonesia

Tiger cowrie sea snail
Tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigris). This sea snail inhabits coral reefs in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. It hides during the day and emerges at night to feed on algae

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"Cowrie: A Symbol of African Heritage and Cultural Diversity" Discover the captivating world of cowrie, a small tropical shell that holds great significance in various African cultures. Originating from the vast continent, particularly Ethiopia's Omo River Valley and South Omo region, cowries have become an integral part of traditional adornments and artistic expressions. In the Hamer tribe, known for their rich cultural heritage, one can witness the awe-inspiring sight of African women gracefully wearing enormous lip plates. These striking accessories are often adorned with intricate cowrie shells, symbolizing beauty and femininity within their community. Traveling further across Africa to Morocco and Algeria in the Maghreb region brings us to another enchanting use of cowries. The Gnawa musicians, an ethnic group inhabiting these lands, incorporate these delicate shells into their vibrant musical performances as symbols of spirituality and protection. Beyond its symbolic value, cowries also serve as stunning subjects for still-life compositions. Picture a tropical shell still-life capturing the essence of Africa's diverse landscapes; it is a testament to nature's artistry intertwined with human creativity. Delving deeper into Ethiopia's Southern Omo region reveals more astonishing uses of cowries among different tribes. In Labuk village belonging to the Karo Tribe lies a necklace adorned with meticulously arranged shells—a testament to their craftsmanship and attention to detail. The Karo Tribe further showcases their mastery by incorporating cowrie shells into intricately designed skin clothing worn by Karo women. Each piece tells a unique story through patterns created using this natural treasure found abundantly along Africa's shores. Cowrie shells even find themselves atop headdresses crafted by skilled artisans across various communities—feathers dancing alongside buttons and shimmering shells create mesmerizing headpieces that reflect both tradition and individuality.