The Story of Wampum

Wampum is made from the Quahog Clam Shell (Mercenaria Mercenaria), which lives in the coastal waters of Northeastern USA. Quahogs were used by the Native American Indians prior to the arrival of the colonizing Europeans for ornamentation, for use in marriage and in other ceremonies, and as a memory aid. Upon the arrival of the Dutch, English, and French, Wampum was made into tubular beads and served as one of the main sources of currency between the Native Americans and the newly arrived European traders and settlers. The beads were made into purple and white ones. The purple beads (suckauhock) were worth twice as much as the white beads (wompampeage) in the most popular use of them: the trading of beads for beaver pelts in New York State, Western Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

Wampum jewelry made of sterling silver and authentic quahog wampum.

Jewelry for your pleasure and to extend this part of American history to you.