Himalayan Artistry – Nepal
Here we have a beautiful conch shell pendant with inlaid bands of turquoise, copper and coral.
The piece is regarded as tribal and ethnic and has been hand-crafted by the nomadic people from Nepal – a group native to the high altitude regions of the Himalayas.
The conch shell – which essentially is petrified seashell that has been formed over time, is extracted from high in the Himalayas – deposited millions of years ago when seas levels were at that point, and turned into incredible works of art – including beads.
Loosely translated, conch is a tropical mollusc with a large spiral shell which can be blown like a trumpet to produce a hollow-sounding note. In the ancient Greek and Roman era, the conch was played by Tritons who were regarded as merman’s – half human (upper) and half fish (lower).
There’s no doubt it can be used to create amazing ethnic-inspired statement jewellery items such as necklaces, bracelets or an ankle bangle.
This is a highly sought-after pendant that would make a wonderful addition to your jewellery-making box of special beads.
The shell will provide lots of potential for creativity for those artisans with a bent for creating amazing Tibetan-inspired ethnic style or statement jewellery.
The piece weighs in at about 10 grams – and having been heavily discounted works out to cost $20 – because of the missing coral overlay.
The shell comes complete with a generous bail through which chain, leather, tigertail or craftline (similar to fishing line) can be threaded through.
The accompanying photos illustrate what to expect in your order. But please be mindful that from time to time there may be some minor variations depending on availability.