3D model of a closed shell box (NHMW-ZOO-MO-0081100-ETH-049)

<p>3D model of a box that was made from a scallop shell in the mid-19th century which is part of the Uetz collection.&nbsp;Thanks to the silver fittings on both valves of the shell, it can be opened and closed.&nbsp;Such boxes were often used as tobacco boxes or small purses.&nbsp;The scallop is very popular for this purpose due to its size.&nbsp;The upper side is usually whiteish, while the bottom side is usually strikingly colourful, ranging from pink to orange.&nbsp;Their characteristic shape makes them particularly popular in art and among collectors.</p><p>Karl Uetz (1914–1998) was a private collector and owner of a large mollusc collection. In addition to thousands of snail and mussel shells, the collection also contains approximately 200 art and everyday objects as well as ethnographic objects. The collection was purchased by the NHMW in 1974 and digitised in 2025.</p>