Deer Cowrie Shell

Cowries are some of the most beautiful shells in the world. There are approximately 200 different species. These shells have been used as currency and collected for hundreds of years. They have been thought of as symbols of womanhood and fertility in some cultures. In the beginning, cowries develop short spires and a large body whorl, but the body whorl quickly surrounds the spire, creating the famous lustrous shape of the cowry.