Description
This clamshell-shaped dish, sculpted from a single piece of ivory, is crafted to resemble a large seashell, with an intricately carved surface that mimics real seashell texture. In addition to a relief sculpture of a conch on the rim, the dish’s surface features high-relief carvings of various shellfish (e.g., clams, oysters, and abalones) and aquatic organisms (e.g., goldfish, water scorpions, and crabs) set against a backdrop of aquatic plants. After completing the carving process, the creator of this artifact colored the organisms in their natural hues—red, blue, orange, etc., making them appear lifelike.