Toussian Cowrie Shell Currency Necklace tapis with both hands resting upon

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

a region crisscrossed by rivers and rich in timber

This bowl serves as a tangible link to the Khmer Empire's golden age

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a High Priest would sacrifice a pure white or black llama

Toussian Cowrie Shell Currency Necklace tapis with both hands resting uponToussian 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