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Cowrie or cowry (pl. cowries) is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails in the family Cypraeidae. The term porcelain derives from the old Italian term for the cowrie shell (porcellana) due to their similar appearance. [1] Cowrie shells have held cultural, economic, and ornamental significance in various cultures.
The European name, porcelain in English, comes from the old Italian porcellana (cowrie shell) because of its resemblance to the surface of the shell. [1] Porcelain is also referred to as china or fine china in some English-speaking countries, as it was first seen in imports from China during the 17th century. [2]
Before the Spring and Autumn period, during the Shang dynasty, cowrie shells had been used as an early type of money. In the Zhou period, their use became more stylised with replica shells made of porcelain, jade or metal coming into use. Some sources suggest that early round coins were a highly stylised representation of the cowrie shells. [1] [2]
State monopolies were instituted in salt, iron, sugar, porcelain, tea, vinegar, alcohol and other industries. The most controversial of Kublai's policies, however, was opening the tombs of the Song emperors to gain treasure for the treasury, [ 186 ] and issuing large amounts of notes which caused hyperinflation .
The shells of these quite common cowries reach on average 16–19 millimetres (0.63–0.75 in) of length, with a minimum size of 10 millimetres (0.39 in) and a maximum size of 28 millimetres (1.1 in). The surface of the shell is smooth and shiny, the colors usually range from pale brown to dark brown, with numerous small yellowish spots.
Porcellana is a genus of decapod crustaceans in the widespread family Porcellanidae, the porcelain crabs, which superficially resemble true crabs. The genus Porcellana includes the following species: [1] Porcellana africana Chace, 1956 Porcellana cancrisocialis Glassell, 1936 Porcellana caparti Chace, 1956 Porcellana corbicola Haig, 1960
China painting, or porcelain painting, [a] is the decoration of glazed porcelain objects, such as plates, bowls, vases or statues. The body of the object may be hard-paste porcelain , developed in China in the 7th or 8th century, or soft-paste porcelain (often bone china ), developed in 18th-century Europe.
Cypraeovula fuscodentata (dark-toothed cowrie, also spelled 'cowry') is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a predatory marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. [ 1 ] Subspecies