Map Turtle Shell Replica, Hand Cast Plaster Wall Hanging

A Map Turtle Shell Cast in Plaster

The map turtle shell is a low, domed shield with a ridge down its center. It is hand cast in plaster. It measures 8 in L x 5.5 in W x 3.3 in D. It has hooks on the back. Studio White is a clean plaster white and Fossil is a weathered stone tone. Sepia is named for cuttlefish ink, and Obsidian is a deep dark tone.

Product Details

• Material: Hand cast plaster
• Finish: Studio White, Fossil, Sepia or Obsidian
• Dimensions: 8 in L x 5.5 in W x 3.3 in D
• Weight: 2 lb
• Package dimensions: 14 in x 14 in x 14 in
• Production: Made to order in the USA, ready to ship in 2 to 3 weeks
• Note: Hand cast, so appearance may vary from piece to piece
• Product number: HP44250SW (Studio White), HP44250FOS (Fossil), HP44250SEP (Sepia), HP44250OB (Obsidian)

A Turtle's Shell as Defense and Symbol

A turtle's shell is its greatest defense and potentially its greatest vulnerability. In many cultures it is a symbol of strength and protection.

Hindu texts tell of Kurma, the tortoise form of Vishnu, who bore Mount Mandara on his back. The shell is shown as a steady foundation.

A turtle shell wall hanging brings texture to a plain wall. This plaster turtle shell has hooks on the back, so it needs no frame. As coastal wall decor, the map turtle shell pairs well with the sea fan plaques.

Bringing Nature Indoors

Bringing the natural world into your home goes back to early botanists and naturalists. They collected samples from around the world to catalog it. A map turtle shell carries a little of that habit into a modern room. Browse more casts in our Wall Hangings collection.

Made to Order

Each piece is cast to order in the USA. Production takes 2 to 3 weeks before it ships. Hand casting means color and surface vary slightly from piece to piece. Choose Studio White, Fossil, Sepia or Obsidian at checkout.

Placement and Care

Hooks on the back let it hang from a wall screw. Use an anchor rated for the weight of the piece. Dust it with a soft dry brush and keep it indoors.

About Spix and Martius

In 1817 Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius joined a team of naturalists sent to Brazil. He and Johann Baptist Spix later split off and covered about 10,000 kilometers. They returned with more than ten thousand plant and animal samples.

Martius went on to write a monograph on palms, published in parts from 1823 to 1857.

For More Reading from the Web

• Albertus Seba, George Perry and the naturalists who catalogued shells, plants and animals from around the world: Natural Curiosities - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Meet the American shell collectors of the 1800s, from Thomas Say to Edgar Allan Poe's borrowed textbook: The Conchologists: Searching for Seashells in 19th Century America - Biodiversity Heritage Library