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South Indian [Hindu] coco-de-mer Tantric holy water vessel. Grown in the Seychelles and found washed up on the shores of South India, where it is considered auspicious, and so sometimes made into a holy water vessel for Hindu tantric ceremonies. Made from one half of a coco-de-mer shell. Length: 29cm. 19th century or earlier. [Ref. AG1a]

The coco-de-mer was given the name of sea coconut because it was a mystery where the seed [the world's largest] originated when appearing on India's shores - now it is known those that found their way like this had rotted inside so that the hollow shell might float from it's palm tree on a distant shore in the Seychelles. It is now a protected species.