Turban shell engraved with details of the Great Eastern
Download media
Object number2014.03811
TitleTurban shell engraved with details of the Great Eastern
DescriptionLarge turban shell engraved with details of the ss Great Eastern, with a port view of the ship engraved in the middle. Engraved at the top with 'Designed by I. K. Brunel, Built by J. S. Russell'. It is in a scrimshaw style with the words and pictures finely engraved into the shell and then inked in black, although the ink is slightly worn away. Beneath the picture of the ship are details of its launch, dimensions, tonnage and horsepower.
The shell likely dates from between 1858 and 1865, as it shows the ship with five funnels. One funnel was taken out in 1865 when the ship was refitted for cable-laying.
Production date circa 1858 - circa 1865
Object nameturban shell
Object categorydecorative art
Materialshell
Techniqueengraved
Dimensions
- width: 168 mm
length: 165 mm
height: 100 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”