Hand carved conch shell beads compliment antique coin silver dangles from Afghanistan. 

These conch shell beads are hand carved in Nagaland, located in Northeast India.  They have a beautifully rustic shape and each bead has unique details.  This kind of conch shell is found in areas around the Indian Ocean.  Conch shells have a long religious lineage within Buddhist and Hindu cultures.  In Buddhism, the conch shell is one of the eight auspicious symbols, symbolizing the Buddha’s speech or call to teaching.  In Hinduism, the conch shell is the sacred emblem of the God Vishnu, the preserver, believed to protect humans and to restore order to the world.

Silvija personally feels a strong link between shells and divine feminine energy, having formed in water, our planets unique element that is a key to creating life.

Coin silver is made from a mixture of metals with a high pure silver content, often repurposing coins by melting them down.  The coin silver components I work with are antiques from all of the world, ranging from 80-120 years old, found in India, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and many West African countries such as Nigeria and Mali.  The wear and patina of antique coin silver has informed much of my jewelry aesthetic over the years.  The pieces are very special and rare.

Earrings measure  2 ¼” from top of earwire.  All metal used is oxidized sterling silver.