"Emerald Duquette-Style Abalone Shell Mirror" - December 2007
"18th C. Louis XV Shell & Coral Encrusted Mirror" - Feb 2007
For as long as I can remember I have been in love with the Ocean and the Seashells that sparkle and shine from within. For over 25 years I have been designing objects of art that have been embellished with shells. Initially, I began my love of this art form on the beaches of Long Beach Island on the mid-Atlantic coast, then north to Cape Cod, and finally ending up here, on the beaches of Southern California. My designs are born from the natural flow of ocean currents and the pools and clusters of glistening shells washed up on their beaches and shores. I am also overwhelmingly influenced by one of nature’s most beautiful creations - the lustrous Pearl. These influences from nature are then combined with the graceful, elegant and opulent lines of various 17th, 18th and 19th century European palace and architectural styles to produce original shell-encrusted mirrors, boxes, frames and lighting fixtures. I adore the luscious gleaming luster of the pearled shell and often combine them with lovely polished pastel shells to create a piece of art emulating the beauty of a spring garden ~~~ or I will totally embellish a piece using only the glistening pearl shell to produce an object reminiscent of past European opulence and passion. When the mood has overtaken me I have done pieces in all-white or colorful tropical designs using various seashells found in Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan and other exotic beaches throughout the world. Sea glass and many forms of gorgeous corals are also used in many of my pieces.
I also design custom shell work for clients who might need to match a particular home décor. I am very passionate about my artwork and my clients are always delighted to own a piece of my work that promises to bring into their homes the passion and beauty of the Sea.
My one-of-a-kind designs for Shellstyle have been decades in the making, and although you may see numerous imitations of my designs and styles up for bid on eBay by many shell crafters, you may rest assured that any shell design art or "shell style" art on any form of my Furniture, Mirrors, Chandeliers/Lighting Bases, Frames, "Jewel" Boxes or Architectural bases under the “Shellstyle” name is an Original Design and Work of Art created solely by me. I encourage you to please contact our representatives here at Shellstyle should you have any further questions or would like more information regarding my designs and artwork.
Please, read our feedback, and read the feedback of our competitors. See how incredibly happy our clients are with their purchases and trust that you will be equally as happy. Please remember we are the original. Sadly, other artists are now even copying the way in which we photograph our pieces! There is a reason our pieces are more expensive, they are original, and unique.
On a more personal note, my children and now my grandchildren, have always enjoyed investigating my studio to see what new shells have arrived or what new pieces are being drawn up on the design tables. They all have become fascinated with that magical place they refer to as...
“THE SHELL ROOM”!
BEWARE!!!
There is another seller on eBay who is currently stealing our designs, making almost exact copies of our pieces, and selling them here on eBay. This other seller is the reason we have temporarily ceased the sale of mirrors on eBay, as this other unscrupulous seller would immediately steal the design, make a copy, and then attempt to sell it as her own original design. We recently decided to sell our frames on eBay, which are our original designs, as they were unique, and totally new to eBay. However, just weeks after the premiere of our frames, this other seller has once again stolen the designs, and is now selling these copied frames as her own designs. This seller even uses the exact same style of photos in her frames that we use in ours. Again, the use of this style of photo was originated by us, and we have a very succinct and definitive reason as to why we choose the photos that we choose. We estimate that in another 2-3 weeks, or around the second week of July, this seller will start to use pearls, jewels, semi-precious stones,and rhinestone vintage jewelry as well. This other seller’s current frames are designs we debuted 3-4 weeks ago. Expect to see our current designs, which utilize semi-precious stones, to be copied in a few more weeks.
We have retained an attorney, and have initiated legal remedies; however, the wheels of justice turn quite slowly, and it could still be months until we have the law behind us. In the meantime, please remember that ShellStyle is the original designer of these frames and mirrors, and we have been designing, building, and selling our frames and mirrors for well over a decade. Years of design and art history education, visits to international museums and galleries, consultations with other artists, and lots of trial and error have been spent on the development of our pieces, and quite frankly, it is terribly disheartening and disappointing to see someone so blatantly steal something that we spent years developing. As a potential buyer of such items, you want and deserve the best. Please remember to always buy the original, and never support counterfeiters or those who steal. The only way to stop these people is to stop buying their products. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Lastly, thank you to all the members who have contacted us, and alerted us to this most recent travesty. Your support and patronage is so refreshing, and once again, we are truly humbled.
To protect bidder privacy, when the price or highest bid on an item reaches or exceeds a certain level, User IDs will be displayed as anonymous names. For auction items, a bold price means at least one bid has been received.
Note: Anonymous names may appear more than once and may represent different bidders.
)
)
)
)
) 