Whether it was an objective or just fortuitous, it is commonplace to collect shells when cruising in French Polynesia. So it’s just as well to know how to make them look their best and preserve them.
Shells Showing them off and Preserving them
Cowrie shells should be simply wiped with a soft cloth. Cones should be soaked in a 40% bleach solution to remove the outside membrane.
A good tip is to paint them with a brush dipped in paraffin oil that will then be absorbed into their calcium carbonate exteriors.
Shells are best stored in a dark, dry and dust-free place, preferably in sealed plastic bags. Alternatively, you can put them on display but try not to place them near your windows. Some collectors even protect them behind drapes and expose them only occasionally. If mounted, use natural materials such as cotton or glass.
Regular maintenance of displayed shells is a good idea. Cowries should be washed from time to time and wiped with a soft cloth. Calcareous shells can be soaked in water with some bleach and then brushed with an old toothbrush, before being dried and again daubed with paraffin oil.
With these basic tips, you are ready to show off the prehistoric mollusks that you found empty on the beach…
One of our local collectors, Michel Boutet, is well known in his field and has had the privilege of lending his name to some of our species – such as Pterymarchia bouteti, shown in the photo.
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