What is Penshell?
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Penshell comes from a mollusk indigenous to the tropical waters of the western pacific. The shell, when polished, can be inlaid as a decorative veneer, cut into small sections, or cracked and paved on a variety of surfaces. In its juvenile state, the shell has a translucent amber color with dark brown spots and irregular flecks. When mature, the shell darkens to a rich brown, almost black color and is no longer translucent. The shape of the shell is similar to the common mussel found in the cooler waters of the earth's temperate zones.
As a decorative material, Maitland-Smith artisans inlay the juvenile shell over fiberglass forms to take advantage of its translucent quality. Combinations of young and mature shell sections give interesting graphic patterns when used as a shade or a lamp, chandelier, or wall mounted light. When inlaid on opaque surfaces, the polished shell has an effect similar to inlaid wood veneers of contrasting colors.
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