Hard, protective outer layer created by an animal

concept

The risen Christ shares supper with two men at Emmaus. Engraving.

An abalone shell covered in flaky brown seaweed. Watercolour.

A lame man and a blind man go to court; the lawyer eats oysters and gives them the empty shells. Mezzotint, 1779.

The British Museum: the Zoological Gallery, crowded with holiday visitors. Wood engraving, 1845.

The risen Christ shares supper with two men at Emmaus. Etching by R. Delaunay after P. Caliari, il Veronese.

Neptune and Amphitrite sit on a scallop shell chariot amidst the waves, surrounded by nereids and tritons; representing the element water. Engraving by L. Desplaces, 1718, after Louis de Boullogne the younger.

Galatea riding a scallop shell chariot over the seas accompanied by Neptune, nymphs and cherubs, symbolising the element water. Etching by F. Bartolozzi, 1796, after F. Albani.

Four mussel shells, one with the contents exposed, and a dragonfly. Watercolour.

Several varieties of field snail (Helix hortensis). Colour reproduction of a painting by L. F. Muckley.

Abraham Vater. Line engraving by J. M. Bernigeroth, 1752.

Venus riding a scallop shell chariot over the seas accompanied by Neptune, nymphs and cherubs, symbolising the element water. Engraving by E. Baudet, 1695, after F. Albani.

Great sea urchins of the North West Coast of America. Etching after B. L. Prevost, ca. 1798.

Die Kontroverse von R.A.F. de Réaumur und J. Th. Klein über Bau und Wachstum der Schneckenschalen / von A. Geus.

Shell collecting : an illustrated history / S. Peter Dance.

Two Samoan women, seated in a domestic setting, wearing grass skirts, one with seashell necklece.

A woman holding a compass and a square rule; representing architecture. Engraving by E. Delaune, ca. 1560.

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Shop

Café

We're experiencing some technical problems in the library today. 

If you’re visiting us, you won’t be able to print or use our PCs or laptops. If you want to sign-up for a free library membership, we’ll give you a temporary card for today and complete your membership next time you visit.

You can access items from the collection as usual and our team is on hand to help. Thank you for your patience while we resolve these issues. 

We're running paid user research studies to improve Wellcome Collection online

Take part in research

Shells

Images from the collections

Images referencing Shells

Works from the collections

Die Kontroverse von R.A.F. de Réaumur und J. Th. Klein über Bau und Wachstum der Schneckenschalen / von A. Geus.

Abraham Vater. Line engraving by J. M. Bernigeroth, 1752.

Shell collecting : an illustrated history / S. Peter Dance.

Two Samoan women, seated in a domestic setting, wearing grass skirts, one with seashell necklece.

A woman holding a compass and a square rule; representing architecture. Engraving by E. Delaune, ca. 1560.

Shells

Images from the collections

Images referencing Shells

Works from the collections

Die Kontroverse von R.A.F. de Réaumur und J. Th. Klein über Bau und Wachstum der Schneckenschalen / von A. Geus.

Abraham Vater. Line engraving by J. M. Bernigeroth, 1752.

Shell collecting : an illustrated history / S. Peter Dance.

Two Samoan women, seated in a domestic setting, wearing grass skirts, one with seashell necklece.

A woman holding a compass and a square rule; representing architecture. Engraving by E. Delaune, ca. 1560.

Related topics