• Vintage Hausa cowrie shell tapestry from Nigeria, shells hand-stitched onto leather hide with natural raffia
  • Hausa cowrie shell tapestry hanging against a wall, showing the full woven panel
  • Detail of cowrie shells hand-stitched in rows onto leather hide
  • Close view of natural raffia binding securing cowrie shells to the hide
  • Hausa cowrie shell tapestry shown in a styled interior setting
  • Angled view of the cowrie shell tapestry showing the texture of the shell surface
  • Edge detail of the leather hide backing on the cowrie shell tapestry
  • Cowrie shell tapestry photographed in natural light against a neutral wall
  • Vintage cowrie shell tapestry styled alongside mid-century furniture
  • Full view of the Hausa cowrie shell tapestry, Nigeria, circa 1960s
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Sojourn Vintage

Vintage Hausa Cowrie Shell Tapestry

Vintage Hausa Cowrie Shell Tapestry

$400.00
$400.00
Sale Sold out
Shipping and delivery are not included in the price. See shipping & delivery policy.

Dimensions: 56" length, 17" width at bottom, 25.5" width at top 
Material: Leather hide, cowrie shells, natural raffia
Era: Circa 1960s
Origin: Nigeria, Hausa artisans
Condition: Excellent condition for a hand-worked piece of this age. The spacing and tension of the raffia binding shift from row to row, and the hide carries the softening and tonal variation of six decades. These are characteristics of the technique rather than flaws.

Cowrie shells traveled West African trade routes for centuries as currency before they were ever ornament, and a piece like this carries that history in its material. Hausa artisans in 1960s Nigeria stitched them onto leather hide with strands of natural raffia, building a surface meant to be read as much as touched.

Every shell was set by hand, following a tradition carried forward rather than a template. Six decades on, the surface still holds the rhythm of the hand that made it.

A detailed video of this piece is available upon request. Please review our Store Policies before purchasing.

Please Read Before Purchasing · Pickup & Delivery

Please review these terms before completing your purchase.

You will choose how you would like to receive your piece at checkout. After every purchase we will email you within two business days to begin coordinating. Timelines for pickup, delivery, and shipping vary by piece and by destination, and we will confirm those with you directly.

Pickup: Available by appointment in Mount Washington, Los Angeles 90065. After your order is placed, we will email the exact address and coordinate a time.

Furniture: Delivery is arranged and paid for by the customer. You research, book and pay the mover or carrier directly. We can send names of companies other customers have used, provide any specs you need, and coordinate the handoff. Many customers shipping outside Southern California use U-Ship. Movers and carriers are third-party and independent of Sojourn Vintage — quotes, scheduling, liability and payment are handled directly with them. Delivery costs are not included in your Sojourn Vintage order total.

Smalls and decor: We coordinate packing and shipping. We will contact you with the final cost, which is paid before your piece ships and is not included in your Sojourn Vintage order total. Local customers can choose pickup for smalls and decor.

If you have questions about pickup or delivery, email hello@sojournvintage.com before purchasing. We are glad to talk through the options or recommend one.

Full details are in our Store Policies.

All Sales Final

All sales are final. Every piece is sold as-is, and condition is described in full in each listing.

We are glad to send a detailed video walkthrough, additional photographs, or exact measurements before you purchase. Email hello@sojournvintage.com. In-person viewing in Mount Washington can be arranged by appointment when necessary.

Questions before you purchase? We are glad to talk through pickup and delivery options, or recommend the right one for your piece. Email hello@sojournvintage.com.

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