A COLLECTION OF EIGHT LATE 19TH CENTURY CARVED SEASHELLS FROM THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER DATED 1967

the sea snail shells of Conchology interest, the pearlescent Gastropod seashell with outer layers stripped to show the nacre, with pierced filigree work and inscriptions, 'ANDAMAN ISLANDS', 'GOOD' and 'LUCK' to its pair, 'WITH BEST WISHES', others with carved hearts and other motifs, one engraved with roses, together with a later example dated 1967 and inscribed in Vietnamese 'Cien Biet' (Knowledge) depicting a soldier leaving his wife,

the largest 11cm high

These late 19th century shells were probably carved by prisoners held at Ross Island Penal Colony on the Andaman Islands. The penal colony was established in 1858 in the remote Andaman Islands by the British colonial government in India, primarily to jail a large number of prisoners from the Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Indian Mutiny.

For a similarly carved shell in a museum collection, see Hampshire Cultural Trust, Object number HMCMS:GOS1985.359, Taxonomic name: Mollusca Gastropoda Trochacea Turbinidae, Turbo marmoratus L

Provenance: Marie-Claude Fabius, a respected London antiques dealer was passionate about her treasured shell collection, amassed over many years. She descended from a long dynasty of famous Parisian antique dealers.