Turtle display shell

Sitadevi

Greenie
Mar 24, 2023
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447ED519-3CF8-4A55-991B-9AD43A31C76A.jpeg
 

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Sitadevi

Greenie
Mar 24, 2023
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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?
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Blackfoot58

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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

Jr. Member
Mar 12, 2023
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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

Jr. Member
Mar 12, 2023
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For comparison here are some purported real turtle shells vs fake:

yhst-96960596466562_2267_10925143
FAKE

Huge-faux-turtle-shell-from-HomeGoods.jpg
FAKE

U-Hw34.UkNIBpRX8tCJ7Ag-smallw.jpg
REAL

7Ygm.8b5n6ABavmuxbWcFA-smallw.jpg
REAL UNDERSIDE

Resized_20221206_090118__74254.1670346154.jpg


FAKE

148917

Fake

19th_Century_Turtle_shell_wall_as1123a004z.jpg

REAL

19th_Century_Turtle_shell_wall_as1123a004b-5.jpg

REAL UNDERSIDE

ANOTHER REAL UNDERSIDE
il_794xN.4726281996_35lp.jpg
 

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Sitadevi

Greenie
Mar 24, 2023
18
20
For comparison here are some purported real turtle shells vs fake:

yhst-96960596466562_2267_10925143
FAKE

Huge-faux-turtle-shell-from-HomeGoods.jpg
FAKE

U-Hw34.UkNIBpRX8tCJ7Ag-smallw.jpg
REAL

7Ygm.8b5n6ABavmuxbWcFA-smallw.jpg
REAL UNDERSIDE

Resized_20221206_090118__74254.1670346154.jpg


FAKE

148917

Fake

19th_Century_Turtle_shell_wall_as1123a004z.jpg

REAL

19th_Century_Turtle_shell_wall_as1123a004b-5.jpg

REAL UNDERSIDE

ANOTHER REAL UNDERSIDE
il_794xN.4726281996_35lp.jpg
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

Jr. Member
Mar 12, 2023
28
20
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

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Those shells look great :) VERY PRETTY !!!
 

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