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Professor Adlington's Cabinet of Curiosities

#32-Cowrie Shell Necklace - Avondale Market

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September 28, 2022

Cowrie shells were used for hundreds of years as money all over the world.

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September 29, 2022

Welcome from the Professor of Garbology! This is my blog associated with the Browns Bay Library's "Unbelieveable" theme for the October school holidays. Below are some of the weird and wonderful objects from my collection of items found on beaches, in the trash and at junk stores, as well as on my youthful travels around the globe. On display in this picture are some Moa "relics" - two large bones and an enormous egg.

#23-Thorny Oyster (Spondylus)- Auckland Shell Club

September 27, 2022

These shells have developed long spines to protect them from being eaten by fish. Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spondylus Spondylus shells were highly valued by the Aztecs and used in their ornate jewellery. At certain times of the year these shells are poisonous - Aztec shamans would eat the toxic flesh to induce hallucinations. Below; an Aztec shaman: Below: Aztec mosaic snake and skull with turquoise and spondylus shell: Read more: https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/home/skilled-use-of-conch-shell-in-mosaics Read about thorny oysters and their cultural significance in South American cultures: https://storiesfromthemuseumfloor.wordpress.com/2018/06/22/red-gold-a-story-of-sacred-shells/ One of the largest websites for information on shells is: https://www.shells-of-aquarius.com Spondylus are masters of disguise - their long spines encourage the growth of very colourful marine algae which serves to camouflage the large tasty oyster from predator...

#25-Swan Doily - 1950's?