Kurma BoxFigural cowrie shell tiny treasures box shaped as a turtle. The word porcelain derives from the Italian word for cowrie shell, porcellana, because of the material's resemblance to the smooth, shiny, almost translucent surface of the shell. The cowrie shell is a yonic symbol that represents fertility, feminine powers, healing, magic, and good luck. Turtles are also ancient symbols of the abundance and fertility of mother earth.