SEASHELL LAMPS & CROSSES

A vintage or reproduction child's sand pail, an import store umbrella with a paper shade and a supply of shells gathered on the beach make up this cheerfully whimsical lamp. Not surprisingly, this entry won both a blue ribbon and the best-in-show award.

Another blue ribbon winner, this one featuring a lamp base made up of larger shells, dried seaweeds, sponges and whelk eggcases arranged on a piece of driftwood.

A more traditional style of shell lamp earned it's creator a white ribbon. I like the way the white shells are carefully sized to go from large to small as they work their way down the lamp base.

This exquisite Victorian style shell cross was displayed inside a lovely wood and glass case. The cross is composed of wired tiny white shell flowers, leaves and buds and placed on a base decorated with more of the same. It's approximately 9" tall.


Imagine this cross with a clock in it on your mantle... it would be a major focal point in the room. Made up of tulip shells, whelks, blue-green limpits, volutes, cowries, pearlized clams and abalones, red coral and some sort of manufactured grasses, this sizeable piece is daring and dramatic. It, too, has a Victorian look to it.

Tomorrow: Miniature Shells at the Show