String of cowrie shells
date: label: Date
content: 1800 - 1968
name: label: Created by
content: Unidentified
notes: label: Description
content: A string of cowrie shells. There are sixty (60) tan and yellow colored cowrie shells on a string composed of multiple natural-colored strands twisted together. The shells do not create a distinct pattern and they are oriented on the string in varying positions.
place: label: Place used
content: West Africa, Africa
label: Place used
content: Maldives, Asia
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Africa
label: Topic
content: Beauty culture
label: Topic
content: Clothing and dress
label: Topic
content: Commerce
label: Topic
content: Slavery
label: Topic
content: Trans Atlantic slave trade
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Collection title
content: William & Mattye Reed Family Collection
label: Classification
content: Slavery and Freedom Objects
label: Classification
content: Jewelry and Adornment
label: Classification
content: Coins and Currency
label: Exhibition
content: Slavery and Freedom
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Family of William & Mattye Reed
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2014.182.59
objectType: label: Type
content: money
label: Type
content: shell money
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: shell , string (fiber product)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 1/2 × 1 × 34 1/2 in. (1.3 × 2.5 × 87.6 cm)