Toussian Cowrie Shell Currency Armlet fishbones Collected in the 1940's to

Collected in the 1940's to 1950's

Attire was minimal: men wore penis sheaths (koteka) and decorative ornaments of feathers

exchanged for gold

sago for sustenance

and gently flaring mouth

Toussian Cowrie Shell Currency Armlet fishbones Collected in the 1940's toToussian people, late 19th to early 20th century, Burkina Faso, West Africa A charming and evocative aged cowrie shell armletoriginally a form of currencycomposed of 44 carefully cut cowrie shells threaded onto a slender cotton 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