Cowry Collection

Whelk, Buccinum undatum 1, Noah's ark, Arca noae 2, noble pen shell, Pinna nobilis 3, Tusus brevis 4
FLO4652539 Whelk, Buccinum undatum 1, Noah's ark, Arca noae 2, noble pen shell, Pinna nobilis 3, Tusus brevis 4, Caltrop murex, Murex tribulus 5, Admiral cone, Conus admiralis 6, volute

Ritual Pellet Drum, c.18th century. Creator: Unknown
Ritual Pellet Drum, c.18th century

DDE-90037324
Allied cowrie. Date: 01/03/2005

UW INDO 1897 13
Rosy Spindle Cowry - Sedam dive site, Seraya, Kubu district, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Indian Ocean Date: 07-Nov-19

Measled cowrie, Macrocypraea zebra (Zebra cowry, Cypraea zebra). Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Arabian cowry varieties, Mauritia arabica (Brittle cowry, Cypraea fragilis and Arabian cowry, Cypraea arabica). Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Eyed cowry and lynx cowry
Eyed cowry, Arestorides argus (Argus cowry, Cypraea argus), and lynx cowry, Lyncina lynx, (white-eyed cowry, Cypraea leucopis). Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder

Tiger cowrie, wrinkled cowrie, money cowrie, etc
Tiger cowrie, Cypraea tigris 1, wrinkled cowrie, Nucleolaria nucleus 2, money cowrie, Monetaria moneta 3, and Ellatrivia merces 4, Porcelaines

Portrait of a Solomon Island cannibal. 1908 (colour litho)
DGC418623 Portrait of a Solomon Island cannibal. 1908 (colour litho) by Hardy, Norman (1864-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: wearing a wreath of white cowries)

Hundred-eyed cowrie shells C016 / 6027
Pair of hundred-eyed cowrie (Cypraea argus) shells. This marine gastropod is found across the Indo-Pacific. The name hundred-eyed refers to the particular type of shell pattern

Large Cowry Shell On Beach; Maui, Hawaii, United States Of America

A Close Up Of A Cowry Shell On The Beach; St. Croix, Virgin Islands, United States Of America

Sudanese Woman with Cowry Shell decoration
Sudanese Woman, wearing a fantastic decorated nosering, headdress made out of small white cowrie (cowry) shells and topped with large feathers. Her dress is also edged with small shells and beads

Extreme close-up of a Tiger Cowry, Fiji
A Tiger Cowry, its mantle withdrawn into the shell for protection reveals its beautiful coloration, Fiji

Tiger cowrie on yellow sea fan, Bali, Indonesia

A live conch shellfish looks out of its shell, Papua New Guinea

Grey and brown wandering cowries, South China Sea
Grey and brown wandering cowries (Cypraea errones), South China Sea, Indonesia

Tiny red yellow and white cowrie seashell, Bali, Indonesia

Red spindle cowrie on whip coral, Bali, Indonesia

A large tiger cowrie, Fiji
A large tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigrisis), Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

A large red gorgonian sea fan and tiger cowrie in waters off Fiji
A large red gorgonian sea fan and large tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigrisis), Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

Bright red Cowrie on coral, Papua New Guinea
Bright red Cowrie (Phenacovolva tokioi) on coral, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Juvenile conch feeding at night, Papua New Guinea

Tiny cowrie shell on dendronephtya soft coral, Indonesia
Tiny cowrie shell on dendronephtya soft coral, Lembeh Strait, Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

An orange sieve cowry crawling across black sand
An orange sieve cowry (Cypraea cribraria) crawls across black sand in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This tropical area in the western Pacific harbors an extraordinary array of marine organisms

Cowry

Ocellate cowrie shells (Cypraea ocellata)

Four cowrie shells

Cypraea argus, hundred-eyed cowrie
A pair of hundred-eyed cowries (Cypraea argus). A marine gastropod found across the Indo-Pacific. The name hundred-eyed refers to the particular type of shell pattern

Acacia sp. babul tree
Watercolour by Olivia Fanny Tonge (1858-1949). From one of sixteen sketchbooks presented to the Natural History Museum in 1952

Allied Cowries - Indonesia
LEE-155 Allied Cowries Indonesia Calpurnus verrucosus Lea Lee contact details: prints@ardea.com tel: +44 (0) 20 8318 1401

Chinese Cowrie (Ovatipsa chinensis) adult, crawling over sand on seabed, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Sunda Islands, Indonesia

Allied cowrie on a reef
Allied cowrie (Ovula ovum) on a reef. Cowries are sea snails that cover their shell with a mantle, which is coloured and textured to match the host organism

Cowrie shell

Cowrie on a reef
Cowrie (Cypraea sp.) on a reef. Cowries are sea snails that cover their shell with a mantle, which is coloured and textured to match the host organism

Allied cowrie (Ovula ovum) on the sea bed. Cowries are sea snails that cover their shell with a mantle, which is coloured and textured to match the host organism

Allied cowrie on a sea fan. Allied cowries (Ovula ovum) are sea snails that cover their shell with a mantle, which is coloured and textured to match the host organism

Tiger Cowrie Great Barrier Reef, Australia
VT-53 Tiger Cowrie Great Barrier Reef, Australia Valerie & Ron Taylor Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigris). Andaman Sea, Myanmar
AUS-634 Tiger cowries Andaman Sea, Myanmar Cypraea tigris Dr David Wachenfeld / Auscape / ardea.com Auscape Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Cowrie Shell North Solitary Island, New South Wales, Australia
AU-63-ms Cowrie Shell North Solitary Island, New South Wales, Australia. Cypraea sp. Auscape Shell Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

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Cowry shells have a rich history and diverse range of varieties, making them fascinating objects to explore. From the DDE-90037324 and UW INDO 1897 13 specimens that bear unique markings, to the mesmerizing Measled cowrie, Macrocypraea zebra, with its intricate patterns resembling a work of art. The Arabian cowry varieties, Mauritia arabica, showcase their own beauty with delicate designs that captivate the eye. Amongst these stunning shells are the Eyed cowry and lynx cowry, each boasting distinctive characteristics that set them apart. And who can forget the iconic Tiger cowrie? Its striking appearance has earned it various names such as wrinkled cowrie or money cowrie due to its resemblance to ancient currency. Delving into historical depictions reveals intriguing insights; a portrait from 1908 showcases a Solomon Island cannibal adorned with Cowry shell decorations - an indication of their cultural significance. Similarly, in The Pictorial Museum of Animated Nature engraving we glimpse at how these shells were cherished throughout time. The allure of Cowries extends beyond mere illustrations; they can be found adorning beaches worldwide. Whether it's a Large Cowry Shell on Maui's shores in Hawaii or a Close Up Of A Cowry Shell on St. Croix beach in the Virgin Islands - their presence adds natural beauty to these coastal landscapes. Lastly, let us not overlook the Hundred-eyed cowrie shells C016 / 6027 which possess an enchanting charm all their own. These Sudanese Woman with Cowry Shell decoration exemplify how this humble seashell continues to inspire creativity and adornment even today.