Mr E Bean

Mayhaps this will illuminate all:

http://www.seabean.com/

Duffy

Thank you VERY much ... it seems these travel the Atlantic, back and forth, much favoured by seamen as being Lucky, the polish is because of being rubbed in pockets, many servicemen carried them in WWII. They grow on vines, South America and Caribbean.

I've seen them made into jewlery in Barbados and also in Mexico.

WOW!! I've learnt something new tonight....Thank you Duffy for the info and Thankyou Treeve for uploading these unusaul looking beans....as always here on Picture Penzance, I am delighted to see and learn different things, @ Tropicgal would like to see pics (if you have any) of these beans that have been made into jewellery, would be fascinating to see the transformation.

some have been known to have a nutmeg in with their small change - my father did and I'm still doing so..
but why ? I just dont know.....any ideas ??

My father took his around with him as a 'lucky' seed, as well as the little black cat (model) in his pocket. It worked in his case. I cannot argue with my uncle's certainty that the bean had magical qualities, it worked every time. He could divine with it, as well as heal wounds (his prize trick was to get rid of warts and moles). I have never argued over what I have seen with my own eyes.

Can't find the website for the jewelry we saw in Barbados but this site gives you some idea -http://www.beachbeans.com/jewelry/jewelry.html

In a similar vein, on our travels we have seen jewelry and other items made from the Tagua nut, also known as vegetable ivory. It's a wonderful product, I have some pieces at home and it really does look like ivory. More details are found here:http://www.oneworldprojects.com/products/tagua.shtml