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Shell Descriptions
All of our shells are imported from the Philippines as a byproduct of the food industry. This means that we do not harvest the ocean for shells, nor do we endorse such practices.
Shells are durable but they do need protection from dirt, excessive moisture, and direct sunlight.
Shells are as diverse and beautiful as any manmade products. We hope you and your customers enjoy the bounty of nature!
Brownlip Oyster - Item # 0050111
Pteria Penguin - commonly known as the Penguin Wing Oyster or the Brownlip Oyster for its lustrous brown finish. This is one of the winged oysters. It is part of a large family of tropical dwelling oysters with a mother of pearl interior. These oysters are usually found attached to rocks or wharves. Some can even produce a gem quality pearl. This is one of our most popular shells and is paired with the turbo sarmaticus (see below) with fabulous results. (754BJ03003, 754BJ04004, 754BJ11102, 754BJ12102, 754FM4003, 754FM5003 and 754FM8003)
Trocha Spiral Cut - Item # 0058601
Trochous Niloticus - commonly known as Commercial Trochus. These shells are generally used for making buttons. They belong to the family of Calliostoma Tops and are common around the world. For this item, a channel is cut into the side of the polished shell allowing visual access to the inside of the shell. It is striking piece for display.
Green Argy Polished (turbo) - Item # 0058755
See Turbo Argystoma below. For this item, the characteristically green shell is highly polished, but not dyed in any manner. For certain items, like the green argy boxes 754BJ03070 and 754BJ05070, the argy is slightly polished, but for texture, the ridges are left largely intact.
Turbo Pearl - Item # 0058756
Turbo Argystoma - commonly known as the Silver-mouth Turban. It belongs in the family of Turban Shells, a large family of top-shaped snails. There are several hundred species, most of which are vegetarians. This particular species grows to approximately 3 inches. To give this shell its pearly appearance the outer layer is removed, the iridescent under layer is then polished to give it its lustrous appearance.
Green Argy Turbo Banded - Item # 0058757
See Turbo Argystoma above. After polishing, the green outer layer is removed in a spiral pattern, roughly following the path of the animal's home inside the shell. This shell allows your customers to see the variety of finishes available from even one shell!
Tiger Cowry Purple Top - Item # 2053042
Cypraea Tigris - commonly know as the Tiger Cowry. It feeds on polyps on coral reefs. It is most commonly found under the coral rocks in the Indo-Pacific region and also around the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The exterior of the shell is smooth and polished because of the covering that the animal has, called a mantle, that wraps around the entire shell. Interestingly enough, some cultures see cowry shells as a symbol of fertility and are often offered to a bride as a gift to ensure fertility. The outer shell is brown and black spotted, similar to a tiger, but the purple resides in a lower layer. To reach the purple of the shell, they are dipped into an acidic formula. Tiger cowries are also used in carvings like cameos due to this uniform color under the patterned shell. (754BJ03074, 754BJ05074, 754BJ08021, 754BJ11103, 754BJ12103, 754FM4020 and 754FM4029)
Polished Paua Shell - Item # 2053089
Haliotis Iris - more commonly know as the Paua or Rainbow Abalone. It can be found along the shores of New Zealand and the Philippines. The outside of the shell is rough and dull, while the inside is a beautiful blend of colors. The animal that lives inside this shell is black and it is the foot of the animal that is edible and marketed in many countries. The shell is most commonly used in jewelry as well as inlays in such items as furniture and guitars. The word paua is actually Maori (a tribe in New Zealand) for Abalone. Abalone shells belong to the family Haliotidae and are nicknamed sea ears for their oval shape. Because of the beauty of this shell and its relative thinness, paua shell tends to be more expensive. (75BJ07011, 754BJ20012, 754BJ30010, 754EGGP, 754FM4011 and 754FM4040)
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