A unique late 19th Century “blond” turtle shell. Never been seen before, this particular shell has a natural flaw: a “hunch“. Clearly this natural deformity did not impede this specimen from developing into adulthood. His “hunch-back” would have looked particularly odd to the sailors who captured him in South America at the tail end of the 19th Century. Of all the shells seen and collected over the years, this has to be the most unusual and without a doubt the most unique “blonde“ turtle shell. The sailor who polished it for hours and hours must have known that it was unusual and special because the patina and whiteness of the shell suggests he paid particular attention to get this shell as brilliant white as he could.

These turtle shells were South American river turtles and would be captured to take on board the merchant ships of the 19th century. The turtles were then boiled (to make turtle soup) and eaten, with one turtle capable of feeding reputedly up to 100 sailors. However, the left overs were not simply thrown overboard. Often a sailor would take the shell and polish it by hand for hours on end giving it a gloss-white finish and sell it as an item of curiosity for a few shillings once docked at home which explains why most of them tend to turn up for sale in the northwest of England in the proximity of Liverpool, one of the busiest trading ports of the world at the time.

Today these make for wonderful conversation pieces, appealing to interior designers, collectors of natural history and maritime antiques.

Scientific name: Podocnemis Expansa, listed CITES Appendix II, Annex A (exempt). As this specimen is pre-1947 no article 10 is required.

Condition: superb white glossy patination with only a couple of natural flaws

Dimensions: shell alone: 60cm high, 58cm wide, 20cm deep, with stand: 74cm high, 58cm wide, 25cm deep