 Oyster, a 20x200 Vintage Edition 10"x8" ($24) | 14"x11" ($60) | 20"x16" ($240) | 24"x20" ($600) |
 Nautilus, a 20x200 Vintage Edition 10"x8" ($24) | 14"x11" ($60) | 20"x16" ($240) | 24"x20" ($600) |
Bear with us for a second. Imagine you’re barefoot on the beach, padding across the dense, damp shore. Your eyes wander around your feet, surveying the sand for small discoveries. An alabaster glimmer grabs your attention. You bend down to scoop the treasure into your hand. A seashell! Quite a score. You trace its surface with your thumb and quietly examine all its ins and outs.
We wanna be spot on as we set this scene, ‘cause the fact is it reminds us of an activity we’re inarguably more obsessed with: Collecting seashells has much the same meditative quality as pondering a piece of art.
Let’s be real...when collecting seashells, you don’t just snag one. You fill your pockets and palms with the li’l marine marvels. You take your haul home. You ask yourself where the heck you’re going to put all these damn shells. But you don’t worry, ‘cause seashells look smashing in any interior. Self control be damned. Similarly, we struggled to narrow down today’s edition release to just one seashell stunner, so we’re doubling up. Collect the luscious Nautilus or the pair of pastel-hued Oyster shells—or both vintage prints! They’ll each look amazing on any wall.
Nautilus, a 20x200 Vintage Edition
Our Nautilus, for instance, is a solitary gem. Pearly white with seafoam green stripes, it’s the paragon of Nautilus perfection, at least to your average 18th century seashell enthusiast. (The wee, gray rendering in the upper righthand corner gives you glimpse of the shell shape from a different angle.) The shell was illustrated by German engraver and naturalist Georg Wolfgang Knorr in his collection published in 1770, but Nautilus shells were popular long before that—and have remained popular long after. The smooth, curvesome exoskeleton found its way into many a Renaissance-era cabinet of curiosities. Fibonacci would have dug it for its striking logarithmic spiral. Owners of mid-19th century Victorian homes scored major brownie points for including a chambered Nautilus shell in their personal collection. Edward Weston photographed them in the 1920s...the list goes on.
Oyster, a 20x200 Vintage Edition
The Oyster on the other hand is perhaps better known for its flavor (hello, hi, we love to eat you). These briny bivalve beauts have solidified their place in history and contemporary culture, whether as bearer of pearls, aphrodisiac, or exemplary seaside snack. What’s often overlooked is their gorgeous shells. Sculptural and colorful, the examples depicted in Oyster are exceptionally lovely. Oyster appeared in the sixteenth volume of George Shaw’s The Naturalist’s Miscellany. Shaw, an English botanist, created twenty-four such volumes in all, making it the largest series on natural history at that time. He worked hand in hand with illustrator, painter, and engraver Frederick P. Nodder, the artist of this multi-hued Oyster shell duo.
So make like a beachcomber and collect these shells. Precisely the sea change your walls were looking for.
With art for everyone,
Team 20x200
