Lot 70

Ancient Caddo Mississippian Shell Bead Necklace

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Ancient Caddo Mississippian Shell Bead Necklace

Estimate: $600 - $900

Starting Bid: $300

(0 Bids)

by Artemis Fine Arts
August 7, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Native American, Southern United States, Caddo / Mississippian culture, ca. 900 to 1450 CE. A collection of white-hued shells strung in modern times on a wire as a necklace. The elongated beads are likely a type of Olivella shell and the globular ones are possibly Naticidae. Shells were important items for use as jewelry and ritual, their spirals were cosmological symbols of the circle of life. Size of strand doubled: 35.5" L (90.2 cm); shells: 0.3" L x 0.25" W (0.8 cm x 0.6 cm)

Any item originating from Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian cultures falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping, and can only be shipped within the United States.

Provenance: Private Kansas City, Missouri, USA collection, Ex. John Townsend collection, formed in the 1970s and earlier.

SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).

PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.

Item # 162035

  • Condition: Chips and nicks to surfaces. Light mineral and earthen encrustations. Strung in modern times with a lobster clasp.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000