A single strand of sunrise shells, each one selected for the amber-to-pearl gradient that gives this species its name.
These shells were collected over three months from a single beach on the North Shore — a beach known to produce sunrise shells only during the winter swells, when the deep shelf material gets churned up and deposited above the high-tide line.
About the Shells
Sunrise shells (Langford’s Pecten) are found in Hawaiian waters at depths of 30 to 300 feet. Most are collected by divers, but the finest specimens — the ones with the most dramatic color gradients — are found on the beach after storms.
The color range runs from deep amber at the hinge to pearl white at the outer lip, with a blush of coral in between. No two shells show the same gradient. Matching them for a strand is an exercise in controlled obsession.
Construction
- Pattern: Twisted rope (single strand)
- Thread: Waxed linen
- Length: 16 inches
- Shell count: 42
- Completion time: 3 weeks (after 3 months of collecting)
Retail / craft fair
All pieces are available by conversation, not by cart.