It has long been my opinion that seashells are the supreme collectible. Fashioned by nature in a vast and dazzling array of curvaceous and sculptural shapes, they are offered up freely by the bountiful ocean and couched cozily in the sand, waiting to be plucked by any beachcomber with a sharp eye.
Far from being the mere oceanside plaything of preschoolers with plastic pails, seashells have inspired awe and wonder in intellectual giants throughout history, including Aristotle and Frank Lloyd Wright, the titan of architecture. Wright was a prolific shell collector who told his students, "Certainly Divinity is manifest here in these shells in their humble form of life, such greatness with such simplicity." And today, some of the most talented artists, such as Peggy Green, are creating exquisite shellwork that commands a pretty penny.
Can't get to Ocean City to start your own seashell stash? Then find a treasure trove of shells at some of the resources listed here. No plastic shovel and pail required.
The Shell Factory and Nature Park
And don't forget to visit Ocean City's own Sea Shell Shop and Fenwick Island's Sea Shell City.
Calendar of 2011 Seashell Shows
Books
Shell Chic by Marlene Hurley Marshall
Guide to Seashells of the World by A.P.H. Oliver
Destinations
