Turtle display shell

[Sitadevi]

 

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[Blackfoot58]

View attachment 2075602

Very interesting piece. Is that a wooden carving mallet in the back side?

 

[Sitadevi]

Very interesting piece. Is that a wooden carving mallet in the back side?View attachment 2075644

I don’t think so. Material looks and feels and knocks as if it’s something different. There are cracks and divots on the front too. My father travelled a lot. Could this be a real turtle shell somehow?

 

[Blackfoot58]

The other picture helped. I can see it is not a mallet. I’m not sure if it’s real. Possibly a real shell with epoxy added to back for mounting purposes. The growth cracks on the bony top shell look accurate. In my experience turtle shells can be difficult to keep for many years. Humidity, lack of humidity, temperature changes, all seem to make them want to delaminate at some point. It is a nice looking piece either way.

 

[Wonderwhatif]

I don’t think so. Material looks and feels and knocks as if it’s something different. There are cracks and divots on the front too. My father travelled a lot. Could this be a real turtle shell somehow? View attachment 2075645

I was at the museum recently and as an artist (I say, inwardly cringing at myself) I have a reasonable eye and don't think it's real. It looks like it's been cast or made to look like a turtle shell, much like the dino bones at the museum. It's a fairly good artist repro or casting, but I personally don't believe it's real. it is possible a varnish or shine gave it that impression though and as I always say, I am definitely not an expert. It just lacks the intricate details I'd expect to see. Could be a museum/classroom display model to avoid the cruelty aspect.

 

[Wonderwhatif]

For comparison here are some purported real turtle shells vs fake:

FAKE

FAKE

REAL

REAL UNDERSIDE

FAKE

Fake

REAL

REAL UNDERSIDE

ANOTHER REAL UNDERSIDE

 

[Sitadevi]

For comparison here are some purported real turtle shells vs fake:

FAKE

FAKE

REAL

REAL UNDERSIDE

FAKE

Fake

REAL

REAL UNDERSIDE

ANOTHER REAL UNDERSIDE

These photos are helpful thank you. If it’s a well done fake, at least no animals were harmed. The material holding it to the post looks similar to the underside, which points to it not being real

 

[Wonderwhatif]

These photos are helpful thank you. If it’s a well done fake, at least no animals were harmed. The material holding it to the post looks similar to the underside, which points to it not being real

As an artist it does look fake to me. But a well done reproduction! Might even be a museum piece or something. And like you said, though it was a different time, it's nice to know that no animals were harmed!

 

[Gare]

Those shells look great VERY PRETTY !!!