Fine Shell Art Blog - Shells, Shell Art & Other Coastal Delights: DIGITAL CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

DIGITAL CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Italian Pharmacist, Ferrante Imperato (1550-1625) formed one of Europe's first natural history collections in his native Naples, Italy. The sketch shows Mr. Imperato with his son, showing visitors his amazing "wonder room."

What are "cabinets of curiosities?"

In short, "wonder-rooms" or better know as "cabinets of curiosities" were room-sized collections of natural history specimens (marine, land animals, fossil, mineral) as well as mythological creatures (no doubt animals spliced together by a skilled taxidermist), popular in the European Renaissance (14th to the 17th century).

Photos shown below in our "digital cabinet of curiosities" are from both my travels and from my (ever shrinking) personal shell collection. I will be adding more photos over time. You are welcome to grab a photo for personal use. I only ask that if you post a photo on the internet, to please be kind and provide a link and/or source reference back to this blog. Thank you!

Chocolate Chip Sea Star

Peristernia Reincarnate

Red and yellow Sea Fan (Gorgonian) From the Sea-of-Cortez

White Ram's Horn Snail

Pycnopodia Heliathiodes (Sunflower Sea Star)

Pecten Langfordi (Sunrise Shell)

Homalocantha zamboi (Zambo's Murex)

Natural Pink Stylaster Coral

Murex Aculteatus (Pendant Murex)

Cardium Costatum, also known as the Great Ribbed Cockle of Senegal West Africa.

Siratus Alabasters (Alabaster Murex)

Natural purple Allopora Californica

Natural Pink Allopora Californica

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Shell and Shell Art Sites of Interest:

General ...

GREEKSHELLS.GR Photographs and information for over 350 different species of seashells indigenous to the Greeks seas. Site is in Greek but translated into English by "Google Translate."

SAND-ATLAS.COM This informative site categories and maps sand from around the world. Special interest to shell artists - see "star sand."

NMR.NL/NMR/HOME.DO The Natural History Museum of Rotterdam, The Netherlands offers an informative online specimen shell collection data base.

MALACOLOGICAL.ORG is an international society of individuals and organizations with an active interest in the study and conservation of mollusks.

CONCHOLOGISTSOFAMERICA.ORG is a society for shell enthusiasts. the site provides a wealth of information, including an extensive listing of up-in-coming shell shows in both the USA and abroad.

CONCHOLOGY.BE specializes in selling specimen shells. The site also offers excellent information about shells, including an online shell encyclopedia and a large listing of shell and shell related web sites.

ILOVESHELLING.COM is colorful and informative site all about the art of shelling on Florida's Sanibel & Captiva Islands and Southwest Florida Beaches.

SHELLTRIPS.COM Author, shell collector and lifelong floridian, Peggy Williams organizes and guides shell collecting trips around the world.

MANANDMOLLUSC.NET and

DIRECTORY.MANANDMOLLUSC.NET is a resource site for students, educators and anyone wanting to learn more about the fascinating world of the Mollusc.

Where To Buy Seashells...

SEASHELLCITY.COM is located in Fenwick Island, DE and offers a nice selection of seashells, sea life and corals. Be sure to check out their craft & small shells.

SEASHELLS.COM is located in Sanibel Island, FL and is a must see for shell seekers visiting the island. Their brick & mortar shop is overflowing with exotic shells, sea life and corals. They offer a good selection of shells online however, it is only a very small portion of what they actually carry. If you are looking for something special or seashells native to Sanibel, call them, they most likely will have what your looking for.

ON EBAY...

CINQUANTAGEFLEUR on EBAY offers a large variety of new and vintage shells for shell craft projects.

VALENTINE CRAFT SHELLS on EBAY offers a large variety of quality shells for sailors valentines and other shell craft projects.

NEMO NOVELTIES on EBAY offers seashells and gar (fish) scales in a very large variety of color choices.

THE SHELL GAL STORE on EBAY offers a variety of shells and hand picked coral pieces for shell craft projects.

AS-THEN-NOW-SEASHELL-CRAFT-SEWING on EBAY offers a variety of shells for shell craft.

Endangered Species Resources & Links...

CITES.ORG Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora or CITES is an international agreement to which Countries around the world adhere to voluntarily in order to protect specific species from exploitation and possible extinction. The site offers information and a data base of protected species.

FWS.GOV U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a bureau within the Department of Interior. Their mission is to work with others to conserve and protect fish, wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of the American people.