Cowrie shells

Money from the sea

The Art Institute of Chicago describes cowrie shells as a currency in Africa, and as shells that were also linked with the spirit world. Imports of cowries rose sharply in the late 15th century. Our files do not say when cowries were first used as money, or where these shells were gathered.

To verify: The Art Institute of Chicago’s own wording on the rise in imports in the late 15th century; Where the shells came from, and when cowries were first used as money in West Africa

On figures for twins

Yoruba families had carved figures called ibeji made in memory of a twin who had died. The Metropolitan Museum of Art links the cowries on ibeji with good fortune and with having children. The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford holds a Yoruba cowrie box that was used to keep charms.

To verify: The Met’s exact words on the cowries on its ibeji figure; The object number and date of the Pitt Rivers cowrie box

A shell, not a promise

We tell the cowrie as old money and as part of Yoruba art, and make no claim that wearing one changes anyone’s finances. Original ibeji are family memorials, and we do not sell them.