Cowrie shells have a long, layered history that stretches far beyond their recent resurgence in home decor. Long before they appeared on coffee tables, wall hangings, or sculptural objects, cowries ...

Long after seashells cease to be dwellings for the ocean’s creatures, they remain desirable as raw materials in home decor, especially in coastal areas. A shell accessory can recall beaches visited ...

Hard-shell gourds lend themselves both to utility and decoration. Ancient cultures only needed to harvest and dry the fruits from this prehistoric plant to have cooking kettles, storage containers, ...

A rare shell discovered by Bermudian Jack Lightbourn in 1979 is the source of inspiration for a new Christmas decoration by Alexandra Mosher, the jewellery designer. Ms Mosher was looking for ...

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. In home decor, shells are synonymous with a kind of kitschy seaside aesthetic that most try to avoid, their ...

The beautiful shell -- what is a shell? -- Shells and people -- The useful shell -- Symbols of status -- Magic and religion -- Wealth from the sea -- Carved shells -- Shell jewelry -- Shells in art -- ...