This heavy, thick single strand twisted black leather necklace features a centerpiece maroon leather pendant with 5 natural cowrie shells and a single vintage round gold weight in the center. Necklaces of this type are worn by tribal people of Mali for protective purposes, as well as personal adornment. The leather is made from goatskin. Such a necklace is imbued by tribal healers with medicinal or spiritual value which defend the wearer from whatever he or she may consider to be threatening to them. The cowrie shells are authentic, vintage shells that were used or centuries as currency all over West Africa. Each vintage brass gold weight was individually hand cast many years ago using the traditional lost wax casting method so no two are exactly alike. 

The pendant measures 2 1/4 x 2 5/8" (6 x 7 cm); the necklaces vary from 10 1/2" to 10 3/4" long (26.7 to 27.3 cm)