Shells
A Natural and Cultural History
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- $34.99
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- $34.99
Publisher Description
Echoing with the sounds of the sea, an exquisite survey of the science and customs of conchs, clams, coquinas, cowries, and much more.
Shells have captivated humans from the dawn of time: the earliest known artwork was made on a shell. As well as containers for food, shells have been used as tools, jewelry, decorations for dwellings, and to bring good luck or to ward off spirits. Many Indigenous peoples have used shells as currency, and in a few places, they still do. This beautifully illustrated book investigates the fascinating scientific and cultural history of shells. It examines everything from pearls—the only gems of animal origin—to how shells’ diverse colors and shapes are formed. And it reveals how shells have inspired artists throughout history, how shells have been used in architecture, and even how shells can be indicators of changing environmental conditions. Also including two essays by shell expert M. G. Harasewych, emeritus curator of gastropods in the Smithsonian’s Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Shells is an authoritative exploration of the deep human connection to these molluscan exoskeletons of sea, lake, land, and stream.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This cursory survey by zoologist Moretzsohn (The Book of Shells), who died in 2020, compiles trivia on "shells secreted by snails, clams and other molluscs." Though Moretzsohn touches on how mollusks eat and navigate, the focus is on how shells have featured in human cultures. He notes that the protohuman Homo erectus "created the first known doodle on a freshwater mussel shell about 540,000 years ago" and that evidence of shells being used in jewelry stretches back tens of thousands of years. Examining contemporary uses, Moretzsohn discusses how Mixtec people in western Mexico "milk" Plicopurpura columellaris snails over thread to dye fibers purple, and how Indigenous peoples in Papua New Guinea use snail shells as currency. Though such insights intermittently intrigue, they read like a collection of facts rather than a cohesive overview, and the sometimes obvious commentary ("With the advent of the Internet, small companies and individual artists can today easily sell their creations to the whole world") contributes to the book's listless feel. A few pearls of wisdom aren't enough to save this disappointing outing. Photos.
