Cowrie Shell, Woven ? Hat?

Been digging through my garage just to start getting rid of stuff, and came across this I didn' even know I had it. I figured it's a hat and did a lil researching on it but nothing like this shape or style. Now I'm using hat as a search maybe that' where I'm going wrong? Im guessing it' just a tourist piece? 70s 80s? But hopefully I'm wrong and it's worth thousands lol...

 

Geez, Jake - who knew that attaching cowrie shells to baskets was a "thing"?

I didn't see anything with red thread like yours, but when I searched Google for "cowrie shell basket" I did find quite a few...

Maybe yours is a planter? (I just can't imagine anyone wearing that on his/her head!)

Here are a couple of different ones:

from:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/521576...ch_query=cowrie shell basket&ref=sr_gallery_1


https://www.etsy.com/listing/253981...h_query=cowrie shell basket&ref=sr_gallery_26

I do think that yours looks rather "rough" in comparison... (???)

 

It's African, a traditional style, combining coiled palm fiber, leather, and cowrie shells. Not a hat, just a cowrie-covered bowl, made for the tourist trade, from Nigeria.

 

Thanks again guys as always you guys are the best!!

 

It is a little known fact that cowrie shells,due to their high selenium content, are even more effective than aluminium foil for shielding your brain from mind control rays, so if you are currently wearing a tinfoil hat, get one of these and be even safer!!!!1!!!!

People who are telling you it is a bowl are clearly government sock puppets who want to keep you enslaved!!!!!

 

Ahahahahahahahha