Shells

Seashells

While a shell is defined as "a hard, rigid outer layer, which has evolved in a very wide variety of different animals including mollusks, sea urchins, crustaceans, turtles and tortoises, armadillos, etc" the most familiar "shells" are seashells.

Scientifically speaking, seashells are the external shells of marine mollusks. They are usually mostly made of calcium carbonate. This make-up can take different forms, one being nacre or mother of pearl.

Shells of many types were, throughout prehistory, history and are still to the present day, popular as human adornments, either used whole or cut into pieces. The uses have including all kinds of pendants, beads, buttons, brooches, rings, and hair combs.

Additionally, shells are commonly used in home decorating. Small pieces of colored and/or iridescent shell have been used to create mosaics and inlays to decorate larger items such as boxes and furniture. Also, large numbers of whole seashells, arranged to form patterns, have been used to decorate man-made grottos.

Using Seashells

Sea shells have long been used as decorative pieces. They are sometime used whole as beads or pendants or other times they are cut and shaped to resemble an animal or another object.

There is a long history of certain types of shells being used as horns. Shell horns are actually a type of trumpet. They are made by hollowing out the shell and boring a hole into the end (for the mouth). This "trumpet" had neither a mouthpiece nor a bell, and was not so much a musical instrument as a megaphone into which one spoke, sang, or shouted. The intention was to distort the voice and produce a harsh, unnatural sound to ward off evil spirits or disconcert one's enemies. Only later was the trumpet used to invoke friendly gods or to encourage one's own warriors on the battlefield. Typically only one or two different pitches could be produced on such an instrument, though sometimes a small fingerhole was bored in the tip to provide the player with an extra pitch.

Fun with Shells on YouTube

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Seashell Jewelry on eBay

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Shells for Sale on CafePress

Palm Island Shells Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)

Price: 15.99

Palm Island Shells Journal

Price: 10.99

Palm Island Shells Framed Panel Print

Price: 35.99

Palm Island Shells Tote Bag

Price: 13.99

Beachcombing

The art of finding...

The most common use of the term "beachcombing" may be to describe the recreational activity of finding curiosities that have washed in with the tide. These items include seashells, sea beans, driftwood, lumber, plastics, and all manner of things lost or discarded by seagoing vessels and fishing activities.

Books have been written to aide the identification of these occasionally strange and well-traveled items. Sophisticated recreational beachcombers use knowledge of how storms, geography, ocean currents, and seasonal events determine the arrival and exposure of rare finds. Less skilled beachcombers may use metal detectors and very keen eyes.

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Seashell Books on Amazon

The World's Most Beautiful Seashells (Worlds Most Series)

by Leonard C. Hill

Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 10/12/2008)

Seashells

by Josie Iselin, Sandy Carlson

Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 10/12/2008)

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells (National Audubon Society Field Guides)

by NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 10/12/2008)

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