Red Tagua Chip Collar Necklace

$38.00

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MC-N56

Thirteen flat, freeform chips form a saturated red collar, each edge outlined by a dark natural rim that draws a graphic line around the color. The shapes read as sliced rather than shaped — no two are cut the same.

Material: Tagua nut, cotton cord
Color: Red
Length: 19–20 in
Closure: Button-and-loop
Origin: Ecuador

The chips sit almost flat against the collarbone rather than curving away, giving the piece plate-like weight to the eye but very little in the hand. A single dark cord runs the whole line, and a smaller chip loops through at the back as the closure. Best worn alone.

Details

Hand-cut freeform chips
Rich red dye over natural tagua
Dark carved edges left visible
Lightweight organic beads
Button-and-loop closure

Each chip is hand-cut, sanded and dyed from a natural seed, so slight variations in shape, size and color depth are part of the piece, not a flaw.

The Story

Tagua comes from the seed of the ivory palm, a tree native to Ecuador's coastal rainforests. Dried, the seed hardens into a dense material that carves and polishes much like ivory — Ecuador exported tons of it to European and American button factories in the late 1800s, until plastic buttons replaced most of the trade by mid-century.

Workshops there still cut, sand and dye tagua by hand. Because the palms have to stay standing to keep producing seed, the work gives rural communities a reason to leave the surrounding forest intact rather than clear it.

This piece uses the material directly. Each chip is sliced freehand from a whole seed, so no two are the same shape, and the darker outer rim of the seed is left showing rather than sanded away — the red dye sits on top of a natural, once-living surface.

Craft & Care

Technique: Ecuadorian tagua carving

Keep dry and out of water. Wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth to preserve the dye and the natural sheen.

Questions

What is tagua?

Tagua is a hard, ivory-like material from the dried seed of the ivory palm, a tree native to Ecuador's coastal rainforests. It is carved, sanded and dyed by hand, and no animal ivory is involved.

Is this necklace heavy to wear?

No. Tagua is a dense but lightweight seed material, so despite the chunky look, the necklace sits comfortably without weighing on the neck.

Can I get it wet?

It is best to avoid water. Keep it dry and wipe it clean with a soft cloth to protect the dyed color and the natural finish.

How does the necklace close?

It fastens with a simple button-and-loop closure formed from the tagua chips and cotton cord themselves — no metal clasp.