The long pointed cone-shaped shells known as dentalium sometimes crack, as seen near the center of this headdress.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection II-B-82
Operculum shell is often used as inlay. Here, it forms the teeth of a mask. The detached one has a bit of red paint, a clue that helps orient the shell perfectly in its proper position when repaired. Operculum inlays sometimes are detached or missing from objects, and it is also common to see them still in place but cracked or chipped on old objects.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection II-B-1683
Abalone shell is another common shell seen on objects from Alaska, especially Southeast Alaska. It is commonly used as inlay in wood carving or sewn to items of regalia like this. Sometimes there are holes drilled into the pieces to allow them to be stitched in place. It is also common to see inlaid abalone that has drilled holes, perhaps from a previous use. The color of abalone does not fade, but the shell sometimes delaminates along its layers.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection II-B-1802
Sea shells of all kinds of prone to cracks and breakage, but some are more fragile than others.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection I-B-412
Sea shells often have a thin outer layer called “peristracum”. This becomes brittle and easily wears off after the animal is no longer alive. In this image, the brown peristracum of the shells is flaking off, and they had been stored with green urethane foam which has degraded and become sticky.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 79-44 accession
These shells also have a little bit of the peristracum layer still attached.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection I-B-404
These delicate shells are stacked on top of one another with deteriorating foam. Beware the scraps of paper with notes on them, they may be the only pieces of information that link these shells to their history and identification. Treat those bits of paper with care and copy their information.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 79-44 accession
