Alisha and I seem to be obsessed with tentacles. Alisha just completed the wax for a whimsical and wonderful Nautilus Pendant. On our recent buying trip to Tucson, she purchased a number of tiny fossilized ammonite shells with the intent of designing a Nautilus Pendant that would incorporate the shells. She spent countless hours sculpting the undulating tentacles of her nautilus and plans to attatch the sterling silver nautilus to the ammonite by drilling and pegging into the fossilized stone shells. Because each ammonite shell varies slightly in size and shape, she will need to adapt each wax to it’s individual ammonite so each piece will be unique and have it’s own personality.
Nautilus Wax and Fossilized Ammonite
Fossilized Ammonite Shells
The Monterery Bay Aquarium recently opened it’s Tentacle Exhibit and I have already visited twice. It is a remarkable and inspiring venue of tentacles. Pictured below are the nautilus; bizarre and prehistoric and armored with their exquisite striped shells.
Nautilus – Monterery Bay Aquarium
A giant inflatable octopus waves a greeting from atop the Monterery Bay Aquarium
Inflatable octopus ontop of Monterery Bay Aquarium
I loved the painting of the Tentacled “Contessa” as well as the faux Grecian vessels adorned with paintings of octopi. (octopuses?)
Tentacled Contessa
Faux Grecian vessels
Undulating and hypnotic jellyfish…….
Jellyfish – Monterery Bay Aquarium – photo by Andrew Beierle
More tentacled creatures…….
Irridescent Squid Monterery Bay Aquarium
Cuttlefish Courting Dance