Costa Rican Artist: Don Marco Vargas

The Vargas family makes and markets Tagua Jewelry as well as Cowrie jewelry. They have a store in the Mercado Artesania in San Jose Costa Rica. I grabbed these pictures from a public picture repository. I have sold one of these on eBay and if you want some, please email me. My mother-in-law has a booth in the same market and she can get some for you for posting on eBay. I can also sell wholesale lots on eBay for retailers. Long ago, before plastic was used for buttons there was natural ivory. Once again people who want the ivory look in jewelry are looking to solutions from the past. The fibers a very densely packed like ivory, The colors range from white to black. These nuts polish very well. The fibers can be completely permiated with dye resulting in colorful designs that last. The feel is ivory not plastic. The Vargas family makes jewelry using the ivory nut as well as other material including silver.