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Summer is almost here! As the season changes to warmer summer months, I can’t wait to refresh my living room and dining room’s look to reflect the carefree, more casual feel of summer.
We live near the ocean, so shells play a big part in my summer time displays. I group shells together in a clear vase and use that as a centerpiece on my dining table. Shells surround the candle in my living room. But my real love? Victorian Shell Work.
Throughout history, shells have been beloved and used for decorating objects for interiors. Dutch merchants opened a market specifically to sell shells, cabinets of curiosities were so popular with the upper classes in Europe that the demand for shells was very high. Architects were designing and creating grand “grottoes” covered in shells in many of the noble estates on the continent. Meant to be a complement to Italian Renaissance gardens so in favor, the shell covered grottos copied the ancient Roman ones.
The French Queen Margaret, first wife of Henry IV of France, commissioned a shell grotto at Issy-les-Moulineaux, the “Grotto of Thetis” at Louis XIV’s Versailles was built in 1665. A century later, Louis XVI had a shell cottage built at Rambouillet for Marie Antoinette.
Shellwork, grottos, and grand scale furniture either covered with shells or meant to imitate shells remained popular throughout royal houses during the next century, but it wasn’t until the 1800’s that shellwork truly came into vogue for the upper and middle classes. As ships brought back entire cargoes of shells for the whims of the aristocracy, it’s not surprising that covering smaller objects with shells soon became “en vogue” with ladies. Victorian ladies could purchase shellwork supplies in Mrs. Roberson’s shop on London’s Grosvenor Square, packets were sold with shells already sorted and accompanied by printed patterns for forming shell flowers, boxes and frames. Every major city in Europe had such shops, and shellwork became a pastime many enjoyed, young and old alike.
At the same time, enterprising men and women who populated the port towns of France, Holland, England etc. found a way to craft and sell their handmade little “shell souvenirs” to bring much needed income to their households. While it is true that some sailors might have created shellwork items, it was more common for them to purchase shellwork souvenirs in a port where their vessel stopped.
Sailors, after spending months away from their family, girlfriends, wives and mothers were eager to purchase a small souvenir to let these loved ones know they had been in their heart and on their mind.
Most of the shellwork souvenirs were designed for women, small boxes, sewing drawers, little frames, small, sweet mementoes that a sailor could either ship or tuck into his “kit” to bring back home. A shellwork industry sprang up world wide in many busy ports. The perfect way to convince a sailor’s wife, or bachelor’s sweetheart that he was thinking only of her during his long voyage at sea. Among the most popular souvenirs were shell roundels, sometimes called “bull’s eyes,” which had colored prints of clipper ships and fishing boats under domed glass coverings. The foreground featured dried seaweed, moss and coral. The shell encrusted frames were usually circular or heart-shaped. Getting extremely rare to find, and avidly collected, the roundels, or portholes as they are also sometimes called, are so decorative, they look beautiful together with a grouping of shells.
All the shellwork antiques shown in this post are HERE. I hope you have enjoyed this post about shellwork antiques. Decorating with shells is a surefire way to bring a touch of summer to your home.
What do you like to decorate with in summer?
Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com.
I love shell art your pieces are so beautiful. Jo
Thanks Jo! They are getting more and more difficult to find. When I do, it’s difficult to part with them, but I do have a few for my clients who are collectors.
The pieces are just beautiful and truly a work of art. Funny . . . they don’t look anything like the shell art I make with the grandchildren!
Vicky, thank you for stopping by, I love that you make shell art with your grandchildren! Not only creative, but you are making lovely memories.
I use all my shells I have, I have a mirror, lamps filled with them, candle holders, and vases filled with them. On my dining room table I make a tablescape with shells, my Lenox lighthouse, a book about the sea. Right now the book is Anne Lindbergh’s “Gift from the Sea”. My husband has a collection of pelicans which I add a few of them.
We live in Vero Beach, Florida so I add a turtle or two. On my glass bamboo coffee table I have a bamboo holder with sand and small items from the sea. Around the house are other sea birds statues.
I keep them out until September when I change to owls as I am a retired teacher.
On my pool veranda I have a very large vase I am slowly filling with shells. We go to the beach often and I try to find at least 5 very good shells.
I love all your boxes. I have had a few over the years but when people admire them, I give it to them, knowing the boxes will be loved and cherished.
Elaine, it sounds like you love shells, and I am sure that your home is beautiful, filled with everything you love. You are so generous to share treasures with friends who admire them!
Lidy – I have a HUGE collection of scallop shells that I picked up in Port en Bessin in Normandy near Omaha Beach. I use them as a summer centerpiece on my dining room table in a large pottery bowl. I’m so proud of them – they’re gorgeous. I also have a large collection of sea glass that I display during the summer – most came from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia along with some from Maine and some from Normandy, France. I’m proud of that collection, also. None of this is used by the grandchildren – only what we gather along the Gulf Coast near Pensacola. You are so right about making lovely memories! We have a great messy time doing it!!
These are so beautiful. I really like the old antique shell pieces, they are so hard to find in any kind of condition, the pieces FrenchGardenHouse sells are stunning.
It’s very interesting to learn about the origin of decoration with shell pieces from the Dutch Merchants !
Your frame is beautiful. I love your work it’s very inspiring !
Those pieces are so beautiful…love them on that pretty Florentine tray!
Here it is the end of summer, and I have a bowl of shells I have just liberated from the sea. I’ve covered 2 mirrors, a large box and several photo frames with shells, and it’s a good thing the cat is so spry…..or I wouldn’t give much for his chances of escape!
Hello, I have just discovered shell art and I am in my late 70’s. I picked up my first shell box, in an Antique shop while visiting the Oregon Coast with my daughter, my antiquing buddy, then coming back to Milwaukee found a huge pedestal shell bowl at a thrift store, have not been able to find anything like it on the internet. It is quite large. I am falling in love with the stunning shells. Found your site by accident, but can’t wait to delve into it. Judi
I live by the sea in south England- have you any shellwork for sale please?
Many thanks,Howard