The Cowrie Shell

Since I started making sea shell candles, I have collected many different shells from the beach along the way. Some shells are not suitable to make candles but just look appealing to me and might come in handy when making something else than candles.
Some of the shells I have found have a small hole. In this condition the shell is perfect to pull a string through and make a necklace without having to make a hole yourself, knowing that shells can be super breakable. I tried making a necklace and bracelet, plus an ankle bracelet incorporating some of the small shells with a hole that had found on the beach. I didn’t really have a clue what I was doing but I was happy with the end results.

A few days ago, I started watching some YouTube videos to get some more inspiration about how I can incorporate shells into the making of jewelry. I saw some beautiful earrings, necklaces, chokers and bracelets. I noticed one particular shell that was used for making necklaces and bracelets. I didn’t know the name of this shell, but I felt I had seen it before. The necklaces and bracelets made with these kinds of shells gave me a tropical and cool vibe when I looked at it.

Now, I really wanted to have these shells to make jewelry, they just looked so stunning! First, I looked up the name of the shell. ‘’Cowrie shell’’ that is what it’s called... People are selling heaps of them online as well. Hmmm… it’s more fun if I try and find them myself. Meanwhile, I have found some cowrie shells myself. Very small ones and some bigger ones as well. I have to say they are not easy to find. Maybe there is a certain season for this shell to strand on the beach or they are getting extinguished.

I read online that the cowrie shell formed part of different cultures and was used for different purposes. Some cultures used it as jewelry and/or as an amulet of protection, therefor for some cultures the cowrie shell had/has a spiritual meaning and it even was used as currency for some time. Maybe this is the reason why it is so hard to find this shell nowadays because in the past this shell was considered an item of great value and some species of cowrie shells have even become extinguished. This is why you should only collect this shell when the animal (seasnail) has left his house empty and is not inside anymore.

I have fallen in love with this shell species, one side looks like a mouth with teeth to me and the other side looks like a very big round belly. Sometimes I can see beautiful patterns on the belly and some of the cowrie shells also contain a shiny top layer, which makes them look even more attractive. I fully can see why people in the past and also still nowadays consider the cowrie shell as a special and spiritual object.

(All pictures are taken by me/ the banner is made possible with the help of canva)