Purple Cowrie pattern acrylic painting on canvas mounted

acrylic painting on canvas mounted in a white floater frame

"Now we can see the inside

Just gorgeous

The colorful pattern on this shell is produced naturally when it's inhabitor makes the shell

Every morning they reinforce their bond with an elaborate courtship display

Purple Cowrie pattern acrylic painting on canvas mountedThe Snake Head Cowrie is found under the coral rocks in the Indo Pacific, from the East African Coast to the Hawaiian coasts. It is dark brown and oval shaped, with a white spotted, and raised central area. A white mantle line runs along the top of the shell, and a gorgeous purple coloring hides just underneath it in a lower layer of the shell. When the Snake Head Cowrie is dipped into an acidic formula, its beautiful purple coloring is revealed.