Shell carved with details of ss Great Eastern
Download media
Object number2014.03807
TitleShell carved with details of ss Great Eastern
Creator Charles H. Wood (artist)
DescriptionA cowrie shell depicting a portside view of the Great Eastern steamship, at sea under sail and steam, with several lines of text beneath it, describing the ship's statistics, construction and launch. The shell has been carved in 'cameo' style, with text and picture 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 and the picture of the ship are off-white against an iridescent purple-pink background.
The shell was carved by Charles H. Wood - 'Wood Sc[ulpsit]' is engraved on the bottom right edge of the shell. He was known for producing carved nautilus and cowrie shells, including others of all three of Brunel's ships. Some of his shells were presented to Queen Victoria or exhibited in the Great Exhibition.
The shell mentions the 1858 launch of the ship, but the fact that it was carved by C. H. Wood may date it to slightly later - some sources suggest (though this probably needs verification) that he was on board the ship on its first voyage to New York in 1860, and sold such souvenir shells onboard or in New York itself.
Production date approx. 1858 - approx. 1861
Object namecowrie shell
Object categorydecorative art
Materialshell
Techniqueengraved
Dimensions
- width: 65 mm
length: 100 mm
depth: 54 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”