River Turtle Shell Replica, Hand Cast Plaster Wall Hanging

A River Turtle Shell Cast in Plaster

The river turtle shell is a smooth, gently arched dome with seams that mark each plate. It is hand cast in plaster. It measures 8.5 in L x 6.5 in W x 3.25 in H. 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: 8.5 in L x 6.5 in W x 3.25 in H
• Weight: 2 lb
• Package dimensions: 10 in x 8 in x 5 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: HP44260SW (Studio White), HP44260FOS (Fossil), HP44260SEP (Sepia), HP44260OB (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.

Many Native nations of North America tell of Turtle Island, a world resting on a turtle's back. The shell stands for support and endurance.

A turtle shell wall hanging works on its own or in a group. This plaster turtle shell has hooks on the back, so it needs no frame. As coastal wall decor, the river turtle shell suits a hallway or a study.

Bringing Nature Indoors

The urge to keep a piece of nature close is an old one. Early botanists and naturalists gathered samples from around the world so that the natural world could be catalogued. Your river turtle shell continues that tradition. 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 Albertus Seba

Albertus Seba was an Amsterdam apothecary in the 18th century. He collected natural specimens well beyond what his trade required. After his death, his heirs auctioned the collection to finish publishing his four-volume catalogue. Much of it now sits in natural history museums.

His four volumes recorded the animals and shells he had gathered, drawn and described one by one.

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