This 1888 Design is a:
One of a Kind
Reimagined Components: Vintage gold-tone oval shaped watch frame with a cowrie shell salvaged from a broken bracelet imbedded in the center where the original watch face sat. The ovular shapes matched each other too perfectly not to unify as one. The design hangs from a 18.5'' 2mm gold plated oval link chain.
Components Found in: Long Beach CA & Sedona AZ
~Cowrie~
Cowrie is the common name for a group of seasnails in the Cypraeidae family, in which the popular cowrie shell derives from. Throughout history these have been arguably some of the most valuable shells in the world. Even the word “porcelain” comes from the old Italian word for cowrie shell, porcellana, because of its strikingly similar appearance. It is widely known that native Africans used these shells as currency, though some records show evidence of cowries being used in Ancient Egypt, China, and India as a means of currency and exchange as well. These shells served well as a mark of trade because of their desired variety of uses. For centuries, cowrie shells have been used in jewelry, gaming/gambling (as counting pieces similar to dice), and even ritualistic use. Many cultures saw the cowrie shell as a potent symbol of wealth, good luck, womanhood, fertility, and birth (due to its similar appearance to the female anatomy), therefore, this shell was often a key element in ceremonies regarding reproduction and communicating with divinities.
~Watch n’ clock~
Telling and keeping track of the time has a long, evolved history with us humans. The word “clock” comes from the medieval Latin word clocca, meaning “bell”, with cognates in many different European languages as well. There are many examples throughout history of devices made to mark the passage of time without respect to reference time, examples such as candle clocks, incense clocks, hourglasses, and tally sticks. The earliest known records of humans utilizing time measuring devices starts with the sundial, created in Ancient Egypt and ancient Babylonian astrology (around 1500 BC). Soon after, the use of water clocks were known to have been utilized in Ancient Egypt and Babylon as well.
It wasn’t until the 1500s that we started to see time-tracking devices that were worn or carried in travel. It is thought that German clockmaker Peter Henlien was the inventor of the very first watch, which was originally worn around the neck as a pendant or attached to clothing. These timepieces had an hour hand only, and had to be wound twice a day. They were typically made of brass and were round in shape with a hinged brass covering over the face, though a trend for irregularly shaped devices made an appearance at the end of the century which included flowers, animals, insects, stars, books, crosses and even skulls, known as Death’s head watches.
After each artifact or specimen has been discovered it is sent through a careful restoration process before being used in a design. If a particularly unique patina is found to add design value to an artifact, it's preserved & sealed to ensure its longevity & protection.
1888 Design
Upcycled Jewelry
Vintage // Antique // Reimagined
-Ali & Nathan
