The shell, a compact gift from Mother Earth, has been used for decorative purposes for eons. In still-life masterpieces, painted ones represent the fragility of life – see Harmen Steenwyck’s An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life (1640) for an opalescent example. Throughout the 18th century, foraged exotic corals could be seen ornamenting the houses of the wealthy – an ostentatious sign of their owner’s fortune. And little wonder – in Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, painted centuries earlier, the arrival of the goddess of beauty and love is proclaimed by a colossal opened scallop, the shell playing an essential role in the painting’s composition, symbolising Venus’s fertility and sensuality. Even the 200-year-old tongue-twister ‘she sells seashells on the seashore’ tells the story of beach-side collector Mary Anning, whose passion for the things still rings in our minds decades on.
Today shells continue to occupy the minds of designers and artists alike. Take, for example, the aquatic underworld theme for the 2011 Chanel catwalk by Karl Lagerfeld, or Martin Brudnizki’s shell-embossed interior at Bellagio in Las Vegas, or indeed Geoffrey Preston’s plasterwork of a magnificent sea garden on the walls of London’s Goring Hotel. Designing with shells reaps remarkable results; with their slender curvature, daintily fanned shape and soft-to-touch ripples, they are soothing like the rise and fall of the tide that shapes them. Each unique, these treasures from the sea are great inspirations for design, with trendsetters embracing scallop-edge frills for whimsical charm, natural shell textures for minimal schemes, and an overdose of marine formations to suit more maximalist tastes. Whatever your bent, embrace your collector spirit and dive into a cave of wonders with these sundry shell-themed treats…
'Sea Shell' delft tile
British homeware brand Petra Palumbo pays homage to delft with characterful displays of swirly seashells, Henry Hoovers and Barbour jackets hand-painted on square tiles. Crafted by local Scottish artists, each design showcases an illustrative quirk of British culture, including the shells washed ashore in Petras, hometown of the Highlands. Each tile gifts even the most nonchalant spaces with a touch of tongue-in-cheek charm – mix and match ‘Sea Shell’ with a ‘Juicy Strawberry’ or ‘Hunter Wellington Boot’, or switch up the colour, for a collage of random fun
Hand-painted scallop shell by Juliet Travers
The Oxford-based wallpaper and fabric designer Juliet Travers has turned her brushwork talents to bespoke hand-painted scallop shells, sparking an accidental frenzy on Instagram after Juliet participated in a charity auction, donating a collection of her mounted scallops within equally ornate flower garland frames – each one-of-a-kind. The designer unleashes them in social media drops, allowing shell fanatics to choose their own signature shell style. Stay tuned for her autumnal announcement when the flood gates will open once again on
@juliettraverswallpapers
Shell candle lid
Like limestone, sea shells are composed of calcium carbonate, making them an ideal ingredient for sturdy accessories. Diptyque has taken note, as their innovative handcrafted candle lid attests. Made in their Brittany workshop, the functional cap melds together recycled sea shell fragments, which, when polished, reveal a pearly sheen. Inspired by the Venetian terrazzo alla veneziana technique, the accessory mixes black seashell pieces with a white mineral base to create a scattered pattern, ensuring each lid is one of a kind
'Austin' pyjama set
Anyone who has strolled through the streets of London will have seen the dazzling new Rixo flagship store, sat pride of place on the King's Road. Known for their it-girl staple dresses and fanciful frills, the brand is just as jazzy in the pyjama department. Buttoned up in your ‘Austin’ set, bejewelled all over with golden scallops, you’ll be drifting off to a night of marine dreams
A Natural History of Shells, by Geerat J. Vermeij
Brush up on your nautical knowledge with Geerat J. Vermeij’s tributed book, published by Princeton University Press. More than just a coffee table accent, the publication is steeped with insights about different shell species, and the parts they played in significant scientific discoveries. The MacArthur-awarded biologist-turned-author delves into the shells’ construction, function, and evolution. Vermeij writes with flair and clarity, providing deep insights into the animal life both of the present-day and stretching back through to ancient geological eras
Pearl and shell drop necklace
Embellish your neck with a shell garland by Grainne Morton – a glittering tribute to the founder’s collector spirit. Handcrafted in Edinburgh from 18-carat gold-plated sterling, the sought-after necklace loops six radiant pearl and shell charms. Morton’s pieces string together found objects, coloured gems and small trinkets, culminating in uber-cool timeless designs which echo the maker’s antique foraging philosophy
‘Mighty Shellfish’ napkin set
Create a seascape (of puns) upon the table and gift your guests with a charming array of handwoven linen napkins. An entreprise born of a stroke of lockdown genius, Sew Bella studio came to be when a stitching fanatic picked up a needle to sew silly stories upon anything she could get her hands on. Her ‘Mighty Shellfish’ napkin set is perfect for shellfish suppers or for sophisticating a family affair pub-grub fish and chips
'Pea Shoots' curio box
Swedish artist Kristina Beddall transformed her hobby of seashell collecting into a singular business: a ‘curio box’ company. Her ‘Pea Shoots’ piece is available through Domenica Marland, and is a visual celebration of nature’s treasures – not least blue mussel shells from the Hampshire coast. Featuring an assortment of found objects Kristina encounters on journeys through beaches, forests, and greenery, these delightful packages teem with nostalgia for childhood trips and full pockets
