Comprised of cowrie shells, the collar was elegant and a unique take on garbs worn during monumental, history-defining moments. For many of us stateside Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a moment to ...

1,200 BC: Cowrie Shells The first use of cowries, the shell of a mollusc that was widely available in the shallow waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, was in China. Historically, many ...

The cowrie, a type of marine snail, has very colourful shells which were used as money. It seems that it wasn’t just the colours that made the shell appealing - its small size and durability ...

One important piece is 'Mandu Yenu' the Royal Throne of Bamum, a striking work adorned with glass beads and cowrie shells, also known as the Pearl Throne. What should be done with this masterwork and ...