Sea shell

Seashells have been used as human adornment and jewellery since prehistory beads, buttons, brooches, hair combs, rings. Shell necklaces have been found in Stone Age graves  as far inland as the Dordogne Valley in France.

At one time certain varieties of seashell, most notably the Cypraea moneta Linne ('money  cowry'), were used as money in Africa, the Caribbean, and North America.
By virtue of the sheer hardness of the shells and typically sharp edges, mollusks have   been used as tools, scrapers, blades, clasps. They have also been used as service ware cups, bowls, ladles, spoons, even troughs. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, trade in and around the Pacific and China was burgeoning. New  islands were still being discovered and exotic seashells began to be    imported, first as curiosities and later as specimens acquired at great cost by collectors,  rich merchant princes among them.
Shell auctions were a common occurrence in the 1850s and 60s, when  considerable sums were paid for rare specimens. Rarity is now largely a thing of the past.
Nevertheless seashells continue to be used as ornamentation and adornment; they are still collected and admired.

There is a surprising degree of variation in the shape, pattern and ornamentation of  seashells. Reason for the exquisite colouring of a given species is not always clear.
Sometimes it is for its protection, as camouflage against would be predators. But just as  often there doesn't appear to be any practical reason at all.
The shells are simply beautiful. Processed, the mollusk's lustrous, iridescent shell  shimmers like a gemstone. Depending on the angle of light, its colour dances about now  pink, now blue, now silver, now white, now purple, now green, now gold. The luminous quality and colouring of every shell is extraordinary and unique. The process of cutting  and shaping and grinding and polishing the shells renders them truly magnificent. There are about 100,000 known living mollusk species, each one admired for its strikingly interesting colours and forms. Bivalve mollusks have two parts, enclosing their tender bodies like two halves of a hinged box. Mollusk shells are formed, repaired and   maintained by a part of their anatomy known as the mantle. This mantle is a skin like tissue that secretes cells responsible for the growth, colour and design of the shell. Injuries to the mantle, or abnormal conditions, can affect the shape  and even colour of the shell. For instance, harsh conditions can limit its food supply, causing the mollusk to remain dormant, during which time production of the shell producing substance will cease. When conditions improve and the mantle resumes its  task, a growth line will be generated marking a 'new beginning'.

The word ‘mollusk' derives from the Latin mollis, meaning  soft. An exterior skeleton is  extremely important to these delicate creatures. While the mollusk itself is vulnerable,   like all species, its shell is incredibly strong and durable.

A craftsperson relies on know ledge passed down from his ancestors and years of interned experience before he can claim mastery of this exceptional craft. No school      can teach what the artisan needs to know. Practice, patience and passion are requisite
to becoming a true master.

Care suggestions
Please use plain water to clean the item with a soft cloth. To polish the surface, apply      the appropriate product:

Shells
water-based polish.

Acrylic mirror
water-based or glossy polish.