Sea silk is the cleaned and combed fibre beard of the noble fan shell (Pinna nobilis L.), the largest shell in the Mediterranean. It is a rare textile material that was already known in antiquity and coveted for its shimmering golden sheen.

The project

Sea silk – a subject for myths and legends. Every era cultivates its own and creates new ones. What was, what is sea silk really? 

read more…

The inventory

one of the most amazing objects: Botticelli’s Venus, embroidered with sea silk, from Taranto, in a 6 x 8 cm frame … 

read more…

Contact

Felicitas Maeder, Dr.h.c.
Projekt Muschelseide
Natural History Museum Basel
Augustinergasse 2, CH-4001 Basel
Switzerland

read more…