Cowries Meaning

Symbolizing good luck and prosperity, these beautiful shells with their natural polish, make elegant necklaces, earrings and bracelets.  Over the centuries, people all over the world have attached value and meaning to them.  They were used as currency both in China and in many African countries.  In some places, the value was categorized by length and in others, simply by quantity.

Fun facts

• In Roman Pompeii, women wore cowrie shells to preserve fertility
• In Ghana, their currency Cedi was derived from sedi, the Twi word for cowrie
• The classical Chinese character for money is a drawing of a cowrie shell