10/26/09

Giant Clam Shells Everywhere

Giant Clam Shell
Giant clam shells make great Seashell Bowls and Seashell Planters, and look stunning by themselves too. Most of the giant clam shells that are used for decor are resin or stone cast, but there are some interesting facts about the real giants at the end of this post..., and to see the biggest clam shell ever go to my other site A Beach Lovers Place: Anne Geddes Clam Shell Baby and Babe Chris.

Clam Shell Wall Mounted
This resin clam shell is anchored over the tub and planted with Dendrobium orchids.

Ali Wentworth
In Ali Wentworth's Home in Washington DC, you find one in the fireplace.

Shell Decor
Filling the space underneath a side table.

Large Seashell Planter
Another seashell planter that helps soften this Blue Bedroom.

Barry Dixon
Designer Barry Dixon placed a giant seashell in an enclosed shower...


... and Tobi Fairley created a center piece with an elegant white Orchid.

Shell Sink
And to answer Erin's question (see comments), it seems that you can have a sink made with a real (or real looking) giant clam shell (click image).


And here's an example! Added 2/13/210.

Giant Clam Shell Live
And here a few interesting facts about real live giant clam shells via National Geographic:

The giant clam gets only one chance to find a nice home. Once it fastens itself to a spot on a reef, there it sits for the rest of its life.

These bottom-dwelling behemoths are the largest mollusks on Earth, capable of reaching 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length and weighing more than 500 pounds (227 kg). They live in the warm waters of the South Pacific and Indian oceans.

Giant clams achieve their enormous proportions by consuming the sugars and proteins produced by the billions of algae that live in their tissues. In exchange, they offer the algae a safe home and regular access to sunlight for photosynthesis, basking by day below the water's surface with their fluted shells open and their multi-colored mantles exposed.

Giant clams have a wildly undeserved reputation as man-eaters, with South Pacific legends describing clams that lie in wait to trap unsuspecting swimmers or swallow them whole. No account of a human death by giant clam has ever been substantiated.

The adductor muscle of the giant clam is considered a delicacy, and overharvesting of the species for food, shells, and the aquarium trade have landed it on at least one group's "vulnerable" list.

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12 comments:

Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com said...

So fab! Now I want one.

beth said...

Those are cool! I love it when they are used as planters! Love the one with the orchid. Those are some interesting facts about giant clams. 4 feet long and 500 pounds! That's huge!
Have a great day!! Beth. :)

Laura Trevey said...

I need a giant clam shell!! Love these images...

puna said...

I'm so glad to know they don't eat people! I do love them though. Wish I had a home that would support it.

EntertainingMom said...

i have some quahog shells that are very large... need some inspiration for those!

Maya@Completely Coastal said...

I see if I can find some inspiration for our native Quahog Shells!

Anonymous said...

the shell under the side table has a mosaic of Botticelli's painting of the birth of venus.
in the painting she is emerging from a giant shell like the one below the painting. nice touch.

Maya@Completely Coastal said...

I was thinking about Botticelli's Venus when I wrote the post for A Beach Lovers Place (see link), but didn't put two and two together with that picture. It is a very nice touch indeed. Thanks for pointing it out!

Southern Aspirations said...

Fabulous images- and in some, I admit my eye was drawn to other places so it was fun to see how the giant shell was worked in! I think I need one!

Erin said...

I've always wanted a clam shell sink for my bathroom. The best I could find online are plaster or glass and they aren't realistic. Anyone know of a place that makes these into sinks? Or a place that does replicas? Thanks!

Maya@Completely Coastal said...

Erin, I added a picture for you of a shell sink that looks pretty real to me. So it can be done. This company is in Jupiter Florida, but I'm sure there are others too.

Erin said...

Thanks so much Maya! That is exactly what I was looking for. It's perfect and I actually visit Jupiter often. Much appreciated!

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