Banjara Personal Bag Made Into Pillow

Recast as a cushion, a red bag keeps its cowries firmly in place.

This personal bag made into a pillow, embroidered cotton with cowrie shells is Banjara, from India, and dates to the 20th century. Cowrie shells have been used as ornament and as a form of currency in many parts of Asia and Africa, and they are often sewn onto textiles. Deep crimson cloth is quilted with fine lines of yellow and white stitching forming diagonals toward the center. Rows of small white cowrie shells run along the folds and edges, meeting at a small rosette. It is 13 inches wide and 13 long.

Pocket change, but it really wanted to be decor.