The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-04-18
BEAUTIFUL CARVED SHELLS.



Novel appointments for the cabi-
net shelf. corner bracket or other
drawing room decoration are the
miniature riaques and medallions oi
hand carved shell that cone from
southern Italy. CCnchs having pic
lures carved on the main Eurface
and left unframed are popular orna-
ments. Sometimes they are mount
ed in gilt or in yariously tinted
frames. 4 conch of moderate size
showing Canova's dancing girls cut
in the solid shell can be bought for
S35- The carving IS as clear cut as
a cameo and shows out beautifully
against the lustrOus brown surface
of the shell. The limbs Of the dan
GERS. their airy drapery and classic
features are as perfect in detail as
though the space of the picture were
measured by feet instead of inches
All of the scenes wrought on these
conchs are ideal in character, having
to do with clouds and waves and
NEUROLOGICAL figures. 1t is matter
of surprise that SO many figures and
such intricate designs can be cut in
such limited space of shell. Nep-
tune and his mermaid nymphs are
pictured on one conch, with the nat
ural accompaniment of dolphins and
sea lions and winged and finned
monsters. On another shell Jupiter
and the especial goddesses he favor
ed are shown in a mist of cloud
waves and aureoles. Bacchus and
his devotees are not neglected and
are represented as surrounded with
the vineyards and garlands that
give an innocent pastoral air TO even
the tipsiest of revels. Dancing maids
and fairy revels and picturesque
peasant carnivals are other subjects
chosen.
Medsllions of the carved shell
scarcely 8 inches in height are
framed in mosaic work and placed
on tiny easels. They are nearly all
heads or busts of NEUROLOGICAL char
acters. Every curl of hair, every
dimple and every fold of the drapery
stands out clear and lifelike. The
f-or,oo x,f tho Gpa mosaic ,r-orb o~o
as handsome as if formed of parti-
colored jewels, and the bright color
ing throws into relief the clear
whiteness and purity of the carving.
Larger carvings are framed in gilt
and mounted on easels. The gilt IL
wrought into wreaths and garlands,
each leaf and petal looking as if it
might be picked from the rest
These medallion settings sell for
from $50 to 500 and over.
"All this work is done by peasant
carvers in the neighborhood of Flor
ence and thereab bout" said the i'm
porter IF an artist who had at
tanned reputation were to carve a
picture like that on conch, it would
sell for three times as much. The
humble shell carvers in Italy do not
mind how long it takes them to do a
piece of work. They carve away at
it at odd moments sometimes for
months. Often the workers in shells
are intelligent enough to devise their
own subjects and set to work on a
conch with a well defined idea in
their head of what they mean to
bring out. Sometimes these men
evolve pretty and original pictures,
copying the things they have seen
about them all their lives and been
used to shaping. Gondolas are fa-
vorite subject and swans and differ
ent kinds of fish and birds. In the
case of these NEUROLOGICAL pictures
a pattern is supplied them, and they
go by that and never deviate from il
in any particular. All the tools arc
supplied them from the factory, and
those who display unusual taste for
the work are instructed by the artist
who designs the pictures and gets
the most difficult parts to do. Ac
cording TO the thickness OF shell ia
the beauty of the carving-that is,
if it is intended for a bas-relief bust
to be framed. Some shells are much
thicker than others. On most of tho
ordinary shell working the carving