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Neat little souvenir from Omaha Beach...


Morlok
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I picked this up about a year ago, and I thought some may like to see it. I obtained it from a couple who buy estates, and sell off the items individually. This came from an estate near Annapolis, but they had no other information. It's fairly large, about the size of my open palm. The paint has a nice old patina to it, but it's hard to capture in the photos. The rear looks dirty, but it's actually some sort of natural looking staining. I am not sure if the date has any significance to the war, or if the original owner landed or departed on that date, taking the shell as a souvenir...

It's just a small, simple item, but I really like it! Quite unusual!! Thanks for looking!

 

 

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Interestingly, a few days ago there was a news article about a violent confrontation between British and French fisherman off the cost of Normandy. The Brits came just outside of the French waters to harvest scallops. Apparently the waters off Normandy beach is rich with scallops. The shell Morlock shows is a scallop shell. Nothing earth shattering here, but I thought I'd share it to add background to the type of shell this is and the location where it was purportedly found. Make sense as to the origins of this shell.

 

Now, all of that information, plus 2 to 4 dollars, will get you a cup of coffee.

 

Steve

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Interestingly, a few days ago there was a news article about a violent confrontation between British and French fisherman off the cost of Normandy. The Brits came just outside of the French waters to harvest scallops. Apparently the waters off Normandy beach is rich with scallops. The shell Morlock shows is a scallop shell. Nothing earth shattering here, but I thought I'd share it to add background to the type of shell this is and the location where it was purportedly found. Make sense as to the origins of this shell.

 

Now, all of that information, plus 2 to 4 dollars, will get you a cup of coffee.

 

Steve

Haha! Thanks! I read that article as well!

I sat down with the previous owners for a few hours & had coffee, tea & a snack. The are a really great, older couple. They had found the shell in a jewelry box filled with costume jewelry. The estate was obviously from a WW2 veterans family. They remembered there being quite a few WW2 items in the house, but they sold it all as a lot. The shell was found later, while digging through the box. She initially kept the shell, and had it displayed on a shelf, with other ocean related items. When they decided to change themes in their house, she decided to sell it. It may be a very common shell in that area, but it is a very uncommon WW2 souvenir! I really like it. Simple, small, and meaningful enough for someone to paint it, pack it in their bag, and travel a few thousand miles with it! (or mail it!)

 

I'll never know who picked it up, but it was a peaceful item, in a violent, bloody world...I plan on keeping it for good!

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