The spondylus shell has been prized in Peru for over 4,000 years. Considered a sacred material, cultures as far back as the Moche used it in religious rites, as ornaments for nobility, in burial rituals, and as a form of money. It was also used in water rituals and religious offerings to Pachamama, the goddess of Mother Earth and today it still commemorates femininity and beauty. Spondylus is even more special now because it is only rarely found in the waters off of Peru’s coast. This spiny oyster is more likely to be found in the warm waters off Ecuador. The only time Spondylus does grow in native waters is during the wet season, and thus it has became an omen of rain and a symbol of power and fertility. The delicate Spondylus shell ranges in color from purple to crimson and is a beautiful native material for artisan jewelry. It is complemented by the sterling silver that is often used to create settings for the earrings, bracelets and pendants that are featured in the Tikanchay collections. The stone and shell silver bracelet featured here and on our website is a perfect example of the high quality spondylus jewelry, necklaces and earrings that our master artisans in Peru are creating for our collections.
