Working with Shells

This creature’s body is mainly covered with snail shells. Its head consists of a large unpolished nautilus shell with its characteristic pattern. The beast’s snout is made out of a piece of tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigris). One of the beast’s ears seems to have fallen off, but the other consists of a clam shell.

In southern China, shells have been used as construction materials in the building of houses; oyster shell architecture is part of Guangzhou’s local heritage.[Cf] In the unique case of a special house on Lingshan Island, which is under the administration of the city of Qingdao, several local and foreign specimens have also been used for interior and exterior decoration.[Cf] The shell house is known as “Xiao Yongshen Museum of Art”.

Other museums dedicated to local traditions of shell craftsmanship in China include the Beihai Shell Carving Museum, where historic and contemporary shell carving techniques from southern China are put on display and provided with explanations.