Abstract
Shells have played a significant role in advancement of human culture since several centuries. Humankind has always been fascinated by molluscan shells and has discovered multiple uses of seashells. The importance of shells to human culture is reflected in some masterpieces. The chapter starts with a description of some paintings, which use sea shells as signifiers and then focuses on shell art and shell craft of Goa. Shells form one of the key elements in some paintings to signify a deeper meaning and serve as metaphor to many attributes of life. The significance of shells is evident in its use in shell craft and architecture. This chapter presents a brief case study of shell windows peculiar to Goa. This chapter also refers to sand art on Goan beaches, some beach installations that involve exclusive use of sea shells and shell paintings. There is reference to use of shells in various Goan craft items such as furniture, mirrors, door hangings, cutlery and jewellery. The chapter ends with a brief reference to regulatory interventions by Parliament of India aimed at conservation of molluscs.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
* Added by S. O. 1197 (E), dated 5th December, 2001 (w.e.f. 6-12-2001) and corrected by S. O. 233 (E), dated 19th February, 2002.
References
Internet Download (2017a) The Mystery of the Margate Shell Grotto. Last accessed on 8 Jan 2017 from http://wackulus.com/margate_shell_grotto/
Internet Download (2017b) Houses of Goa Museum. Last accessed on 11 Jan 2017 from http://www.archgoa.org/
Kamat KL (1993) Kavikale (in Kannada), Karnataka Arts Academy
Kamat KL (1996) Kavi Art of Coastal Karnataka Paper published in Art and Architecture In Karnataka Devaraj DV, Patil CS (eds) Published by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Mysore—1996. Also presented at the National Seminar on Archaeology 1985 held at Mysore on completion on one hundred years of Department of Archaeology. Accessed from http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/kaviart/kaviart.htm on 7 Feb 2017
Kamat KL (2000) Konkanyali kaavi kala (in Konkani) Konkani Arts Academy
LeGear RF (2006) The Margate Shell Grotto Report No 023, Report submitted to The Kent Archaeological Society. Last accessed on 8 Jan 2017 from http://www.kentarchaeology.ac/authors/023.pdf
Peresani M, Vanhaeren M, Quaggiotto E, Queffelec A, d’Errico F (2013) An ochered fossil marine shell from the Mousterian of Fumane Cave, Italy. PLoS ONE 8(7):e68572. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068572
Sonak S (2014) Khazan ecosystems of Goa: building on indigenous solutions to cope with Global Environmental Change Springer, Dordrecht pp 138, print version as well as e-book. http://www.springer.com/us/book/9789400772014
Twyman M (2006) The mystery of Margate’s Shell Temple Bygone Kent , vol 27, No. 6, p 279 Images of the Grotto. Last accessed on 8 Jan 2017 from http://shellgrotto.co.uk/
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sonak, S.M. (2017). Shell Art and Shell Craft of Goa. In: Marine Shells of Goa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55099-2_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55099-2_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-55097-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55099-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)