Shellwork Diorama Shells, wooden base, glass, 19th century
Shell-collecting and shellwork grew in popularity in the 18th century. It was particularly popular in middle and upper class women’s circles with artist Mary Delaney (1700-1788) commenting; ‘I have got a new madness, I am running wild after shells.’ It was so popular that shells were imported into Britain and sold in specialist shops. Collecting and arranging natural objects can be seen as a form of controlling nature and grew in popularity during the 18th/19th century, with the expansion of travel.