Natural Quahog Shell Pendant

This quahog shell features beautiful deep purple swirls. I collect these shells from the shoreline of coastal towns across New England and turn them into one of a kind art pieces. Each piece is unique, with a natural patterning and beautiful purple and cream coloring made by mother nature. Pieces are very sturdy and smooth to the touch, with edges tumbled soft by the ocean. It has been sealed in a clear coat to bring out the beauty and depth of the colors. The pendant features a bail of tiny amethyst glass seed beads.

In repurposing these fragments, I am inspired by the Japanese concepts of Wabi-Sabi and Kintsugi, which highlight the beauty and history of objects that are broken or imperfect. Each shell fragment has spent years tumbling through the ocean to find a new home in a piece of wearable art which highlights the beauty of its brokenness.