Tropical Shell Shapers (1966)

Brighton, Sussex. A look at the ways exotic shells can be used to make ’attractive’ household objects. C/U on a box of tropical shells, pan to box of large ’melon’ shells, pan long more boxes of exotic shells. A man in rubber gloves picks out two shells and dips them in a vat of liquid - “a secret formula“. C/U of the man as he washes the shells. The man trims the rough edges of the shell on a lathe. C/U of an enormous shell being polished - it is used as a Church font. A woman tips out a bag of dried sea horses into a drawer. C/U of a ’bear’s paw’ shell in the woman’s hand. C/U of a ’fox’s head’ shell. C/U of a blue abalone, a pattern has been carved in the mother of pearl interior. C/U of a pile of ’bull’s mouth’ shells. Various C/Us of shells on display, some have flower arrangements inside. C/U of a young woman putting on shell earrings. C/U of a woman’s hands sliding a napkin from a speckled shell ring, pan to a butter dish made from shell. Tilt up a horrible shell figurine of a w