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Object number2014.03823
TitleShell carved with details of the ss Great Eastern
DescriptionA small cowrie shell carved with a short note about the Great Eastern and its tonnage - 'The Gt E. S. Ship, Tons 24000'. The shell has been carved in 'cameo' style, with the text in relief. The leopard spot pattern of the shell's surface can still be seen around the lower edge of the shell; the central part with the cameo carving has been stripped down to an inner layer of the shell, so that the text is off-white against an iridescent purple-pink background.
It is possible that this shell was one of those sold as a souvenir of the ship's early voyages to New York (early 1860s).
Production date approx 1858 - approx 1861
Object namecowrie shell
Object categorydecorative art
Materialshell
Techniqueengraved
Dimensions
- length: 65 mm
width: 45 mm
depth: 35 mm
Credit line“Accepted under the Cultural Gifts Scheme by HM Government from Clive Richards OBE DL and allocated to the ss Great Britain Trust, 2017”