My Amazing Kamoka Valentine!

[pattye]

Thank you so much, Pearl Dreams, for providing the names and sharing your collection! I've been remiss in not looking up names as they weren't provided when purchased.

 

[newberry]

Love all the pictures. Great collection Pattye

 

[kelluvpearls]

Natural beauties, thank you for the new photos P and PD.

 

[GemGeek]

Eating up these luscious shell photos! Thanks.

 

[Red]

Happy Valentine's Day, pattye. I love these carved Kamokas, and was delighted when Josh put some carved shells and a couple of carved pearls on his web site. But, I didn't pull the trigger until I saw your posting here.

Here is my Kamoka shell. It certainly appears to be done by the same talented artist and has the same design elements. I see a tailed sea creature on the left side and ocean waves on the right side. Yours clearly has a flower in the middle, while my husband and I are still discussing what the element is in the center of mine. I'd be curious what people think.

Thank you so much for posting photos of your shell collection.

 

[CathyKeshi]

Pattye and Red, your pearly treasures are gorgeous ... thanks for sharing !

 

[pattye]

Red, Wow, that's a beauty! I see the iridescence in your shell also! Thank you for sharing it! Happy Valentine's Day to you, Red and all my P-G friends!

Lots of fascinating and historical info online by searching "Tahitian tattoo symbols", and similar topics, which I am discovering.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Beautiful, Red!

The little ridges reminded me right away of the toothed-edge look of a cowrie shell, or a trumpet shell. Perhaps it is impressionistic and we are to imagine the creature living within its shell?

 

[Red]

Beautiful, Red!

The little ridges reminded me right away of the toothed-edge look of a cowrie shell, or a trumpet shell. Perhaps it is impressionistic and we are to imagine the creature living within its shell?

I thought it looked a bit like a snail, but I'm a life-long Midwesterner, so I have no experience with sea shells. But, we are thinking along the same lines.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Looking again I think it's a little Tahitian oyster with a pearl peeking out from inside.

 

[JerseyPearl]

OK Pattye, I had to jump on this bandwagon too...I just bought one and will post photos when it arrives! Happy Valentine's Day to me.

 

[pattye]

Awesome, Jersey Pearl! Happy Valentine's Day, lol! We'll all be looking forward to your photos!

 

[baby nurse]

Gorgeous treasures, ladies! Looking forward to yours as well, Jersey Pearl.

 

[kelluvpearls]

Red thanks for showing us your new shell beauty, it looks like a mythical sea creature to me. Maybe Josh can provide more details on the carvings.

 

[DavidL]

Red thanks for showing us your new shell beauty, it looks like a mythical sea creature to me. Maybe Josh can provide more details on the carvings.

If Josh doesn't respond I will be out on the farm in May and will see if I can get any more information on the shells and designs. Also meeting with a traditional tattooist so he might shed some light on the designs and there meanings.

 

[JerseyPearl]

And my beautiful shell has arrived! The flash of color is spectacular.

 

[baby nurse]

Oohh--lovely! Especially that first picture!

 

[JerseyPearl]

Both taken in indirect light from my kitchen window!

 

[amti]

These shells are all so beautiful and the carvings accentuate the glow of the shells. A perfect match!

 

[amti]

I just saw the sea shell collection! Those S African shells are beautiful! I had some shells from my scuba diving days but I don't know where they all went.