Shell Spoon Shell spoon
Shell Spoon Shell spoon
Shell Buttons Shell buttons
Cassidae

Cassidae, Cypraecassis rufa (Linnaeus, 1758)
East Africa
CM 62.7

the most commonly used species for carving cameos

Cufflinks Cufflinks
Cufflinks Cufflinks 
Earrings Earrings 
Ornament Ornament
Shell Rings Shell rings from the Solomon Islands
Shell Necklace

  Shell necklace from Brazil, Amazon, Kayapó, with shell of freshwater mussel, Hyriidae Castalia ecarinata Mousson, 1869

CM Anthropology 32689-265

Close-up of Necklace close-up of necklace
Necklace from Brazil

Necklace from Brazil, Amazon, Kayapó, with shell of freshwater mussel, Mycetopodidae Anodontites sp.

CM Anthropology 32689-259

Necklace from Brazil

Necklace from Brazil, Amazon, Kayapó, with shell of freshwater mussel, Mycetopodidae Anodontites sp.

CM Anthropology 32689-260

Detail of Necklace

Detail of full-body necklace from Artindia Funai, Rikbaktsa tribe, M. grosso, South America, with shells of freshwater mussels, Hyriidae Diplodon sp.

CM Anthropology 000437-9

Bracelet Bracelet with cowry beads, from the Gilbert Islands 
Purse   Purse with cowry beads, from the Gilbert Islands
Detail of Purse detail of purse
Belt Belt with cowry beads, from the Gilbert Islands 
Detail of Belt detail of belt
Haliotidae

Haliotidae, Haliotis fulgens Philippi, 1845
California
CM 62.7310

outer layer removed to reveal mother-of-pearl (nacre)

Pteriidae

Pteriidae, Pinctada margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pacific Ocean
CM 61.540

pearl oyster

 

Pteriidae

Pteriidae, Pinctada margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758)
Persian Gulf
CM 61.541

pearl oyster

Pteriidae

Pteriidae, Pteria sp.
CM 61.2530

used to make cultured pearls

Oypraeidae

Cypraeidae, Monetaria moneta Linnaeus, 1758
Sri Lanka
CM 62.22945

used as currency in some island nations

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