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Mon, 8 Feb 1999 14:41:06 -0500 |
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Shell Creations |
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Mineral oil is fine for all shells....some shells you may want to leave the perio
on.
Filing lips is definitely "frowned" upon.
NORA BRYAN wrote:
> Good food for thought , thanks! I won't throw them out - after all they don't
> exactly hog space in my tiny collection. Also, what do you mean by "dressed up
> lip"? I am guessing that you mean filing rough shell edges smooth to remove
> small chips. Is this a common thing to do with shells? Or is this something
> most collectors cringe at? While we are at it, this would be a time to ask all
> you experienced collectors - How far should one go in cleaning up specimens in
> general? I have heard about using a mineral oil on shells. Can this be used on
> all shells, and what type of oil should I get? All my shells are stored in a
> cool dark,very dry place.
>
> Thomas E. Eichhorst wrote:
>
> > Nora,
> >
> > You are correct, both shells have been polished. Many cowries will show a
> > purple dorsum when the outer layer is polished away. The most commonly seen
> > are purple Cypraea caputserpentis and C. moneta -- I know them well as I
> > have examples of both that I purchased back in my younger days. But as for
> > throwing them out, that is not really necessary as they can make an
> > interesting display next to a shell in the original condition. I have the
> > African turban (Turbo sarmaticus), button top (Tectus niloticus), and west
> > Indian top (Cittarium pica) all with both polished and unpolished specimens.
> > It makes an interesting display. People who know little about shells like
> > the polished specimens, of course.
> >
> > But it is in fact all a matter of degree. This last year I saw specimens of
> > Conus striatus that had been polished for sale at a store in California. I
> > had never seen a polished cone and at the time could only think about what a
> > waste as some looked like pretty nice shells. Now I kind of wished I had
> > picked one up as another example of a polished shell. An interesting
> > display could start with a C. striatus with the periostracum, then one after
> > cleaning in bleach, then one with a "dressed up" lip, then a polished
> > specimen; from scientific specimen to collector specimen to square filler
> > specimen to tourist specimen. Just a thought.
> >
> > Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA
--
Jim and Bobbi Cordy
of Merritt Island, Florida.
Jim Specializes in Self-Collected
Caribbean & Florida Shells
Bobbi in Shell Creations
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