Toussian Cowrie Shell Currency Necklace tapis Small chips to the periphery

Small chips to the periphery of the brick

elegant plaiting and beautifully aged natural patina

with both hands resting upon the forward-thrusting abdomen and prominent navel—symbols associated with vitality

Decoration varies by region and tribe

Toussian Cowrie Shell Currency Necklace tapis Small chips to the peripheryToussian people, late 19th to early 20th century, Burkina Faso, West Africa Beautiful and evocative aged cowrie shell necklaceoriginally a form of currencycomposed of 38 carefully cut cowrie shells threaded onto a slender leather band. Light, tactile, and elegantly arranged, this piece embodies both adornment and economic history. Cowrie shells served as one of the earliest and most widespread forms of money, prized across Africa, Asia, Europe, and