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Weird and Dead Stuff

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ANIMAL ITEMS:

Alaska Carvings & Travels 

Alaska Artifacts

Animal Carvings-Other

Australian Art

Bronze Works

Bug & Crab Specimens

Exotic Leather Accessories

Gator Items

Gem Animals

Narwhal Tusks

Parasite Wood Carvings

Safari Animal Mounts

Sawfish bills

Shark Items

Shark Jaws

Tagua Nut Carvings

Teak Carvings

JEWELRY ITEMS

Amber Items

Brooches 

Cameos

Czech brooches

Dichroic Glass Jewelry

Earrings

Eyeglass Holders

Fairy Stone Crosses

Hatpins

Key chains

Maori Fish Hook Necklaces

Music Jewelry

Necklaces

Opals &, Ivory Items

Pendants

Rings

Titanium Jewelry

Vintage Jewelry

FOSSIL ITEMS

Cave Bear Fossils

Dinosaur Fossils

Mammoth Fossils

Fossils-Others

Poop Fossils

Poop-Moose & Deer

Fossil Shark Teeth

CLOSEOUT SALES:

Marbles

Closeout Sales-Other

ROCK ITEMS

Meteorites

Rocks & Mineral-Other

OTHER COOL STUFF FOR SALE

Alien Gifts

Boxes boxes

Gemstone skulls

Indian Artifacts

Medallions & Coins

Swords, Daggers, Knives

The Weirdest

Zoo books & Books

HUMAN INTEREST

About Us

Cool Customers

Jesse Nusbaum, Artist

Latest Travels

2013 Travel America

Newsletter

Support Our Troops

Tina Memorial

Zany & Fun

FOLLOW us on TWITTER for special DISCOUNTS

You Are On: The Weirdest Page 1 

 

THREE PAGES of the WEIRDEST STUFF on the PLANET

Headers on each page give guidelines of what you'll find, plenty of surprises!  Keep your sense of humor, and enjoy the ride...

PAGE 1:  Moose poop ornaments, coral; emerald beetle brooch and earrings, Cassowary bone dagger, Silver wire tree, Replica Elephant tusk pillars, Boar's tusk necklace; largest Cave bear skull,  gator foot coffee mugs, giant cave crystal, Paddlefish bill, Kangaroo paw back scratcher, sting ray skin, Albino Chinese box turtle, carrier shell, Boar's tooth cork screw, Boar's teeth, Hippo tusk bottle opener, Water Buffalo letter opener, Water Buffalo letter opener/knife, Gemsbok/Oryx horn slices, Yak tooth necklaces, Coyote tooth necklaces and tooth with claw necklaces, Coyote claw earrings, Water buffalo tooth necklaces and earrings, badger claw necklaces, Sperm whale tooth necklace, Dinosaur Bone House!, Mr. Turtle, shrunken heads, buffalo vertebrae, three-eyed alligator head AND the world's only deformed gator head collection, Oosik, Ostrich, stuff from our "weird museum", glass sponge, heart cockle shell, Elephant teak trunk carving, brain and mushroom coral, fossil mud, and more!

PAGE 2:  Dinosaur embryo, Penis gourds, Frog Nesting doll, Amethyst stalactite, Ammonite jewelry, scorpion,  Jade Pillowcases, Shark in a bottle, Giant shark tooth, Mystery ivory, snake bite boxes, shark skin, fossil turtle poop, Fossil hamburger,  fossil tree branches & a mystery rock, and more!

PAGE 3Taxidermy Newborn Deer fawn, Skeletons of: tortoise, royal python eating shrew; Black scorpions, frog, rat, Skeletons of: Eastern painted turtle, cottonmouth snake, twig snake, Western Diamondback rattlesnake, White throated monitor, Gila monster, weasel attacking mole, Mamushi venomous snake, four horned ram photo, croc monitor, Gar fish, spider crab photo, shark made of fossil shark teeth, giant shell, hog island boa with rat skeleton, gimungous iguana, giboon viper skeleton, Pterois Volitans fish skeleton, Rock Python eating Uromastyx Lizard, Ugly Face Pottery 

PAGE 4:  A "virtual tour" of the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum in Myrtle Beach, SC 

 

 JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU'VE SEEN EVERYTHING!

JUMBO MOOSE POOP 

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

(or PIN/PENDANT) on Victorian reproduction brass

Celebrate this Year with some real HUMOR

 

Link here to POOP Fossils Page 1

 

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This is an exquisite specimen of brain coral we acquired (April 2003)...but this is no ORDINARY coral .. this is a coral with a moral - Glenn says behind every BRAIN (sarcastically speaking)...there's a....(see the bottom of the page...)

 

 EMERALD BEETLE

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Talk about being green, why not wear a bug?  

What's so weird about that?  Well, it's an Emerald Beetle from Thailand, about 1-1/2" long.  

The Thai people catch them and EAT THEM.  They pull off the wings and scoop out the nutty flavored white meat - the long-fingered ladies in particular scoop the meat out easily with their nails.  

These beetles died naturally after reproducing, then are made into pins with brass pieces with legs, glued to the bottom, and then sold as lovely insect jewelry!  

How's that for weird!  We now have them available!  

EMERALD BEETLE BROOCHES

Average 1-1/2" long

Stock photo (3 available)

$19 ea. 

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#W-1  

LARGE EMERALD BEETLE 

WING EARRINGS

Average 2" long wings, on silver color French wires

Stock photo (17 pairs available) 

$24/pair

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#W-1-A 

PETITE BEETLE WING EARRINGS

Average 1 to 1-1/4" long wings, on silver color hypoallergenic French wires

Individually photographed

$20/pair

#W1-B2

#W1-B3

 

#W1-B5

#W1-B6

 

#W1-B9

#W1-B11

 

CASSOWARY BONE DAGGER, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Real Cassowary bird tibia leg bone (one side cut to the hollow inner bone, with traditional knotted hood design, made of twined bark string and seed beeds) made as a ceremonial dagger with real cassowary feathers tassel, from Papua New Guinea (Irian Jaya), made by Asmat Tribesmen. We estimate the age to be at least 50 years old.

Here is an information site about this item:

http://www.art-pacific.com/artifacts/nuguinea/weapons/bneknife.htm


$299 each
 

 

   

#W-1-C

14” long x 2-1/2” across knotted hood, x 1-3/4” deep (across knotted hood); Bone itself is 1-1/8” wide x 3/4” deep.
 

 

   

#W-1-D

15” long x 2-3/4” across knotted hood, x 1-3/4” deep (across knotted hood); bone itself is 1-1/2” wide x 7/8” deep.

 

EVER SEE A SILVER TREE BEFORE?

Made of twisted sterling silver wire, on a solid rock base, hung with numerous little silver bells.  Hand made by a jewelry teacher whose class Glenn took.  Measures 21" tall and 21" wide.   A one-of-a-kind item!

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#W-1-M    $300.00  SOLD

 

REPLICA ELEPHANT TUSK PILLARS



   

         

#W-ELE-1

RARE, REPLICA PAIR OF ELEPHANT TUSK Pillars on wood bases

Made from thick strips of water buffalo/cow bone, glued to a mold in the shape of elephant tusk, then intricately carved with Asian themed designs.

On black painted wood bases 10” long x 10” wide x 7” tall.
Measure 71” linear measurement tall from floor to tip of tusks; 8” diameter tusks

$9600

Free delivery EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, inquire for other locations within other lower 48 States.

 

GIRAFFE LEG BONE

Genus and species: Giraffa camelopardalis (wild)

This is a modern giraffe femur bone, product of Africa.  Measures 21-1/2" long x 8-1/2" widest socket end, 3" across middle of bone

Weight: 8 lbs 15 oz.  Not endangered, but we will not ship outside the U.S.

 

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#W-GIR-1  $345  SOLD

 

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TOP

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#W-GIR-2

Genuine Giraffe Metatarsal bone - toe bone, not a leg bone, though it operates as a lower leg.  It has been carved on one side with 3 walking elephants and a grove of trees; no carving on back, flat on bottom, cut flat on one end.  

Measures 25-1/4" long x 5" widest on the ends, 2" widest in the middle, x 2" tall.  On metal rods drilled into a heavy, sturdy ironwood polished base, flat on bottom.  Natural crack along the top is stable.  Stands 8-1/2" high overall with base.  Not signed.  African work.

$825  SOLD

 

 

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#W-GIR-3

Genuine Giraffe rib bone, scrimshawed with Gemsbok rutting and grazing and Zebras grazing.  Signed "Bekie Mcube" as close as we can tell.  Small wood stand on one end with metal insertions into end which is a cap of bone; cut on the other end so it stands by itself.

Linear measurement 29-1/2"; curved measurement 32-1/2"; 2" tallest part of the rib in center, x 1" thickest.  Stands 8" tall at the center.  A beautiful piece.

$975

 

 

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#W-GIR-4

Ceremonial pipe made of giraffe (or perhaps camel) bone (though it is not hollow throughout like a usable pipe), shaped like a tusk though it is bone.  It is in two pieces, the pin between the two is missing.  The other sections have been pinned together with bone pins.  Crowned king head in the front (hole at the bottom) and images of people praying, and animals (lizards, snakes, rabbits), and a square man's face on the side.

Measures 25" long following curvature, x 1-1/2" widext, x 7" tall

$2750

 

WORLD'S ONLY DEFORMED ALLIGATOR HEAD COLLECTION

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GET ONE FOR YOURSELF, CLICK HERE TO SEE THEM ALL!

For the first time, offered individually for sale (350+ heads)

 

THE LARGEST CAVE BEAR SKULL 

EVER EXCAVATED from the Caves of Romania

(Ursus spelaeus)

  f257d.JPG (150496 bytes)

A regular black bear skull looks like a weasel skull when compared to this giant.  Measures 20-7/8" long x 13-1/8" wide x 11-5/8" tall.

$16,500   SOLD

Read the rest of the details, and more cave bear fossils available, on the CAVE BEAR FOSSILS page, link below:

Cave Bear Fossils

 

Guess what this is...is this a shoe insole?  No. A fly catcher?  Nope.   Give up?  Check the yellow box at the bottom of the page for the answer.
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EVER SEE A 

GATOR FOOT COFFEE MUG?  

What a hoot of a conversation piece, and functional too, if you wish, as a mug, beer stein or even a pen holder for your desk.  Available exclusively from us.  Mug is black ceramic or clear glass.  Hand wash only.

This size comes from MONSTER gators over 11 feet long to get this size.  Priced as shown.

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Go to the GATORS PAGE 3, item #G343 series to view them ALL, with the prices:

Gator Page 6

 

CAVE CRYSTAL

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#W-2.  Giant cave crystal from China.  Size is 15" high x 24" wide x 4 1/2" thick.  Solid, and an incredible natural work of art.  

$2,100 plus actual shipping

 

RARE

AMERICAN PADDLEFISH or SPOONBILL 

BILL

(Polyodon spathula)

The paddlefish is a popular sport fish with a distinctive snout that's elongated and flattened into the paddle shape, for which is it named.  The paddle is used to detect prey, and to migrate back to spawning grounds.  Paddlefish is also the oldest living species in North America.

  According to fossil records, it's OLDER THAN THE DINOSAURS!

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#W-3  Genuine Paddlefish bill is 3-1/4" wide x 16" long, modern not fossil

$400  SOLD

 

Below is a LARGE MOOSE JAW prepared by our friend Bob in Maine as a dreamcatcher for Glenn, with one of Glenn's favorite Auriculitis fossil shark teeth in the center, two sharks hand painted on both sides of the jaw.  This one is not for sale (it hangs on display in his office, thanks Bob!), but inquire about purchasing another if you wish.

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Kangaroo Paw BACK SCRATCHER
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#W-900-100  Genuine kangaroo paw back scratcher!  13" long, partially wrapped and sewn roo hide from paw down the bamboo stick about 6".  Keep in mind the kangaroos are hunted by government permit only, if they did not keep the numbers down they would starve in the winter, which is worse.  Then 100% of the roo is recycled (the meat is eaten, the hide is used, even the feet as you see here, much as deer here in the U.S.)  Information card comes with it.  

 $34.00 SOLD OUT

Link to kangaroo scrotum pouch coin purses and keychains

ON

Exotic Leather Accessories

 

The birthday party was great!  The birthday girl thought the kangaroo scrotum pouch was hysterical. So did everyone else! Here's Chris showing off her most unusual gift for her 'memorable birthday' celebration in South Carolina...

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MYSTERY SKIN...

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#W-4-B.  Bet you'll never guess what kind of skin this is (shown top, bottom and close up, measures 19" long x 7" wide) $59.00  SOLD OUT

STINGRAY!  It is tanned, dyed black, the center left natural, and is mainly used in making motorcycle seats and even purses.  The shiny, pebbly, durable surface is such a high quality!   

 

RARE ALBINO CHINESE BOX TURTLE (Cistoclemmys flavomarginata) TAXIDERMY

These turtles are f

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#W-5

This is one of our new treasures, a taxidermy of an Albino Chinese Box Turtle, 6-1/2" long x 4" wide x 1-5/8" tall, shell is 4-3/4" long x 3-1/2" wide.

$220  SOLD

 

Pallid CARRIER SHELLS

(Masters of disguise)

(Xenophora Palidula, Phillipines)

Heidi's favorite, the Master of Disguise in the shell family.  As they grow, they attach a variety of objects to themselves, ranging from dead shells and coral, to pebbles and even bits of garbage left by humans (see the glass bottle top in the photo below, from a shell book).  These items slowly twirl to the center top of the shell as the shell grows larger.  A deepwater shell in most of the world's warm seas

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$39 each

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#W-7-A

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#W-7-C

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#W-7-E

 

Boar’s Tusk/Rattan 

Bontoc Necklace

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Head hunter warrior's trophy necklace

NEW, HAND MADE, 12 natural, genuine boar‘s tusks woven on a hand made rattan necklace, from the mountain province of Bontoc near the Banaue rice terraces on the Island of Luzon, Philippines.

“Bontoc” means “bun” (heap) and “tuk” (top), together meaning “mountains”, referring to the people of the Mountain Province in the Philippines which actually covers 4 provinces (Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province- formerly sub province Bontoc - and Kalinga-Apayao).

This was traditionally considered a headhunter’s warrior’s trophy; Igorot groups formerly practiced headhunting and male dancers wore these at the ato‘s head-taking ceremony. Some were adorned with human hair from a victim(headhunting ended in the 1930‘s).

It is the stylish bachelor young men who wear boar’s teeth necklaces (and armbands called abkil) today, to show their single, available status. The Ifugao believe that wearing this necklace gives them power, strength and speed of the boar. It is worn with the boar’s tusks pointing away from the breast, not towards it (like in Native American bear claw necklaces).

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Reverse side also shown here:

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#W-BOAR-1.  Teeth are from 6.5" long at the bottom to 3" long at the top, measuring along the curve.  Rattan necklace is 32" long (no clasp, it just fits over the head).  A special weird thing to display, wear and own!

 (4 are available)

    $395

 

WART HOG SKULLS

Phacochoerus aethiopicus

Product of Africa, Skull and tusks as described

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#W-BOAR-10

Skull measures 13" long x 7" wide x 7" tall; 7" tusks

$265

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#W-BOAR-11

Skull measures 13-1/2" long x 7" wide x 6" tall; 5" tusks

$255

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#W-BOAR-12

Skull measures 14-1/2" long x 7-1/2" wide x 8-1/2" tall; 9" tusks

$275 SOLD - Bill

 

LINK TO OTHER BOAR ITEMS FOR SALE

 

 

BOAR'S TOOTH CORKSCREW
 

#W-9-1

Agate on the wide end, brass corkscrew
Tooth is 4” linear measurement, 5” curved
Carved elephant in tooth

$39

 

BOAR'S TEETH

Natural teeth, sized & priced as marked

 



#W-10-50

5-1/2" $35





#W-10-51

5-1/4" $30





#W-10-52

5-1/4" $30





#W-10-53

5-1/4" $30





#W-10-54

5-1/4" $30





#W-10-55

5"  $27





#W-10-56

5"  $24





#W-10-57

5" $24





#W-10-58

4-7/8" $24





#W-10-59

4-7/8" $22





#W-10-60

4-1/4" $20





#W-10-61

4-1/4" $20





#W-10-62

4" $18





#W-10-63

3-7/8" $18





#W-10-64

3-7/8" $18





#W-10-65

3-7/8" $18





#W-10-66

3-7/8"  $15





#W-10-67

3-1/2" $12





#W-10-68

3"  $12





#W-10-69

Juvenile tooth, rare

2-1/4"  $30

 

#W-10-70

5-1/2"  $30

 

#W-10-71

3-5/8"  $18

 

HIPPO TUSK TOOTH BOTTLE OPENER

Heavy duty brass opener, natural hippo tooth with wood capped end, 6” LONG, measured linear overall, tooth itself from cap to tip is 4-7/8”
Carved with two elephants, toasted to highlight carving

$85



#W-11-1 

 

 

HIPPO TUSK

on stand

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#W-HIP-1

Hippo tusk, scrimshawed with 4 zebras, brass cap, wood pegs, on wood base.  Measures 8-3/4" long x 1-3/8" wide x 3" tall; base measures 9-1/2" long x 2" wide.  Signed "MWE"

$875

 

 

   

#W-HIP-2

20” curved length (14-1/2” linear) x 2-1/2” wide x 1-1/2” deep
It has been antiqued with stain (not by us)
Weight: 2 pounds, 1.6 ounces

$249  SOLD

 

 

 

#W-HIP-3

Hippo tooth straight, polished, brass cap
9” long x 1-3/8” diameter
Weight: 9 ounces

$195

 

 

 

#W-HIP-4

Hippo tooth straight, polished, brass cap
8-1/2” long x 1-3/8” diameter
Weight: 8.6 ounces

$185

 

WATER BUFFALO HORN OR BONE LETTER OPENER (Africa)

Heavy duty brass opener, natural hippo tooth with wood capped end, 6” LONG, measured linear overall, tooth itself from cap to tip is 4-7/8”
Carved with two elephants, toasted to highlight carving

Individually priced



#W-12-1

Water buffalo bone, wood capped both ends, carved Water buffalo head
HANDLE 2-3/8” long x 1-1/2” wide x 1” thick
BRASS BLADE 4-7/8” long

$39 

 



#W-12-3

Water buffalo horn tip, wood capped
HANDLE 6-5/8” following curvature x 3/4” wide x 3/4” thick
BRASS BLADE 5-3/8” long

$35

 

 

WATER BUFFALO BONE LETTER OPENER FIXED/PEN KNIFE- RETRACTABLE

“National Blade, NJ/USA” between handle & blade
Full opener is 7-1/2” long, handle only: 3”
pen knife blade: 2”
Brass rivets and brass inside edges
Stainless Steel blade

$15 each



#W-13-1

(9 available)

 

SOUTH AFRICAN
GEMSBOK/ORYX HORN SLICES
Horn sliced lengthwise
Great as a collectible or to use in crafts

$18 each

#W-14-1

7” long x 2” wide

#W14-2

7” long x 1-7/8” wide

#W-14-3

7-1/2” long x 2-1/8” wide

 

YAK TEETH NECKLACE

YAK TEETH from Tibet
Designed on bead necklaces by Glenn

The yak (Bos grunniens and Bos mutus) is a long-haired bovid found throughout the Himalaya region of south Central Asia, the Tebetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. Most yaks are domesticated. Yaks belong to the genus Bos, and are therefore related to cattle. Wild yaks are among the largest bovids and are second only to the gaur in shoulder height.

 

#W-29-1

Yak tooth 2” long
on 21” bead necklace-black onyx round beads & natural cow bone beads, 4mm

$35

 

#W29-2

Yak tooth 1-1/2” long
on 21” brown cow bone bead necklace 5x2 mm rondell

$30
 

#W29-3

Yak tooth 2-1/4” long
on 20” golden tigereye and natural cow bone round beads, 6mm

$45
   

#W29-5

Yak tooth 2” long
on 21” “cactus” textured natural cow bone beads (12x6 mm) and twisted black onyx beads (10x7 mm) necklace

$40
 

#W29-6

Yak tooth 1-3/4” long
on 22” Chinese turquoise round beads (6.4 mm) and orange carnelian beads (6 mm) bead necklace

$75

 

 COYOTE TOOTH NECKLACES

Do you know anyone that has one?  Probably not!  That's why Glenn decided to make them, of course.  Natural coyote teeth from legal hunting, using 100% of the animal.
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#W-30-B

1-1/2" long coyote tooth on white cow bone and red glass slim beads, 19" long.

$28  SOLD

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1-7/8" long coyote tooth on 19" white cow bone bead necklace.

$32  SOLD

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1-7/8" long coyote tooth on antiqued cow bone beads, 19" long

$32  SOLD

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1-7/8" long coyote tooth on white bone bead necklace 19" long.  

$32

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1-5/8" coyote tooth on round white bone bead and red glass bead, 18" necklace

$28  SOLD

 
 

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite and green jade bead necklace

$34

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite and green jade bead necklace

$34

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One coyote tooth (1-5/8" long) on 20" white cow bone bead & black onyx bead necklace, gold rhodium barrel twist closure

$34

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite and orange Carnelian bead necklace

$34  SOLD

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite bead necklace

$34  SOLD

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite and red glass bead necklace

$34  SOLD

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite rice and faceted bead necklace

$34  SOLD

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite and red glass bead necklace

$34

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite and blue turquoise bead necklace

$34  SOLD

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite and faceted red Austrian crystal bead necklace

$34

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite and blue turquoise bead necklace

$34  SOLD

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1-3/4" coyote tooth on 20" black hematite and faceted red glass bead necklace

$34  SOLD

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Three coyote teeth (1-5/8" long) on 20" white cow bone (slim) bead and red glass bead necklace, gold rhodium barrel twist closure (1 available)  

$40 

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#W-30-14

Five coyote teeth (4 are 1-3/8" long, bottom tooth is 1-3/4" long) on 20" white cow bone bead & black onyx bead necklace, gold rhodium barrel twist closure 

$46  SOLD

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Five coyote teeth (all 1-5/8" long) on 18" white cow bone bead (large rondells) and black onyx round beads, silver rhodium barrel clasp closure (1 available)

$52

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Five coyote teeth (all 1-5/8" long) on 20" white cow bone bead (medium rondell) and red round glass beads, gold rhodium barrel twist closure (1 available)

$44

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One coyote tooth (1-3/4") on 20" hematite (small rondell) and New Zealand blue coral round beads, silver rhodium barrel twist closure

$38  SOLD

 

 COYOTE TOOTH + CLAW NECKLACES

  Natural coyote teeth from legal hunting, using 100% of the animal.

     

#30-100

5 Coyote tooth and 12 coyote claw necklace
Teeth are 1-1/2” long
Claws are 3/4 to 7/8” long
Brown cow bone bead/faceted golden tiger's eye gem bead necklace 30” long

$95

 

 COYOTE CLAW EARRINGS

Natural coyote claws from legal hunting, using 100% of the animal.
  Gold alloy hypoallergenic French wire earrings
7/8” long (linear measurement)

$15/pr.


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WATER BUFFALO TOOTH Necklaces

Genuine water buffalo tooth, drilled and made into a pendant and made into a necklace.  They are worn for STRENGTH and STAMINA (very much like the Water Buffalo itself).  The water buffalo or domestic Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a large bovine animal, frequently used as livestock in Asia, and also widely in South America, Southern Europe, North Africa, elsewhere.  There are 158 million water buffalo worldwide, 97% of the population is in Asia.

Natural teeth may be smooth or have incomplete enamel but there are no cracks, all are stable & strong.

Teeth are 2-1/4" long, on 20" necklaces, priced as marked

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Hematite with green jade beads  $38

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Hematite with pumpkin shaped tiger eye beads  $38  SOLD

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Hematite and orange carnelian beads  $38

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Hematite and purple amethyst beads  $38  SOLD

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Hematite and red glass beads  $38

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Hematite and opaque red glass beads  $38

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Black and white bone beads  $34

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Black and white bone beads  $34  SOLD

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White bone and Chinese turquoise beads  $34

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Three tooth necklace ( 1 2-1/4" and 2 1-7/8" teeth) with white bone with red glass beads

$50

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#W35-21

Black cotton cord necklace with silver tone beads

$28  SOLD

 

BADGER CLAW NECKLACE

Stunning look that will have everyone guessing!  Badgers are known for their digging capabilities, now you can see why!  These are natural claws acquired by legal hunting that uses 100% of the animal.

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#W-40-1  ONE badger claw (1-1/2" long) on brown beads and Chinese turquoise beads, 20" long  $28  SOLD

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#W-40-2  ONE badger claw (1-3/4" long) on brown beads and jade beads, 20" long  $28  SOLD

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#W-40-3  ONE badger claw (1-3/4" long) on brown beads and Chinese turquoise beads, 20" long  $28  SOLD

 

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One 2" badger claw on 20" brown bone bead necklace with red glass accents

$30  SOLD

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#W-40-6  THREE badger claws (one 1-5/8" and two 1-1/4" long) on brown beads and red glass beads, 20" long  $36  SOLD

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#W-40-7  THREE badger claw (one 1-5/8" and two 1-1/2" long) on antiqued cow bone beads and tiger-eye beads, 20" long  $38  SOLD

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#W-40-9  THREE badger claw (one 2" and two 1-1/2" long) on antiqued cow bone beads, purple amethyst and Chinese turquoise, 20" long  $38 SOLD

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#W-40-10  ONE badger claw 1-7/8" long on antiqued cow bone beads, purple amethyst and Chinese turquoise beads, 20" long  $30

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#W-40-11  THREE badger claw (one 1-7/8" and two 1-5/8" long) on antiqued cow bone and green jade beads, 20" long  $38

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#W-40-12  ONE badger claw 1-3/4" long on antiqued cow bone beads, green jade beads, 20" long  $30

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#W-40-13  THREE badger claw (one 1-7/8" and two 1-5/8" long) on antiqued cow bone beads and red glass beads, 20" long  $38  SOLD

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#W-40-14  ONE badger claw 1-7/8" long on antiqued cow bone beads and red glass beads, 20" long  $28  SOLD

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#W-40-15  FIVE badger claw (one 2", two 1-7/8", and two 1-5/8" long) on antiqued cow bone beads and red glass beads, 20" long  $46  SOLD

#W-40-16  FIVE badger claw (one 2-1/8", two 1-7/8", and two 1-5/8" long) on white cow bone beads and red glass beads, 20" long 

$46

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#W-40-18  ONE RARE white badger claw 2" long on antiqued cow bone beads and tiger-eye beads, 19" long 

$36

#W40-21  ONE CLAW NECKLACE, One 2-1/8” claw on 20” brown cow bone bead, red bamboo coral beads (round & bamboo shapes) with gold tone barrel twist closure

$36

#W40-22 FIVE CLAW NECKLACE, One 2-1/8”, four 1-3/4” claws, on 20” brown cow bone bead necklace with red coral accents, gold tone barrel twist closure

$52 SOLD

 

#W40-23 THREE CLAW NECKLACE, One 1-7/8”, two 1-3/8” claws, on 20” brown cow bone bead, round red bamboo coral bead necklace, gold tone barrel twist closure

(6 available)

$38

 

#W40-24 ONE CLAW NECKLACE, One 2” claw on 20” brown cow bone bead, red bamboo coral beads (round & bamboo shaped) necklace, with gold tone barrel twist closure

(6 available)

$32

 

#W40-25  ONE CLAW NECKLACE, One 2-1/8” claw on 20” natural cow bone, red bamboo coral (round & bamboo shaped) beads, gold tone barrel twist closure

(5 available)

$36

 

#W40-26  FIVE  CLAW NECKLACE, One 2-1/8, four 1-7/8” claws, on 20” natural cow bone and round red coral bead necklace, gold tone barrel twist closure

(2 available)

$52

 

#W40-27  ONE CLAW NECKLACE, One 2” claw on 20” natural cow bone bead, red bamboo coral round & bamboo shaped bamboo coral beads, gold tone barrel twist closure

(5 available)

$34



#W40-28

THREE CLAW NECKLACE, One 2” and two 1-5/8” claws on 20” natural cow bone beads, round red bamboo coral beads, gold tone barrel twist closure

(8 available)  $44

 

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SPERM WHALE TOOTH NECKLACE 

FROM  FIJI TRIBAL CHIEFTAIN, 

worn by a smiling Glenn !

Glenn acquired  this very rare FIJI TRIBAL CHIEFTAIN NECK PIECE from a lady that owned a small museum located in Glenalg, just outside of Adelaide, South Australia, while he was visiting Rodney Fox the world renowned shark expert in March of 1993. This was quite the conversation piece at dinner one night at the Fox's.  It is made of three sperm whale teeth measuring 7", 5.5", and 5", with an etching or hieroglyphics on the largest (bottom) tooth.  The museum owner's husband was presented this piece in the early 1940's while visiting Fiji to acquire native art objects for their museum.  Glenn acquired this at the time the museum was liquidating its collection due to the owner's failing health after her husband's death.
 
Glenn has a reputation for finding the strange and unusual items that he has in his collection from his worldly travels to 54 different countries. Rodney was amazed that this item was right here in his own town. It just goes to show you that treasures can be found right in your own back yard.
 
Glenn has since attempted to find a museum back in Fiji that would like to acquire this for their collection, but to no avail, as he was told there were no funds available for such an acquisition of this nature.  When found, these items are several to tens of thousands of dollars.

Valued at $4800.00 but not for sale

 

OUCH!

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The ultimate Valentine's Day "Gift", Glenn was using the hot glue gun and accidently touched the side of his hand into two drops of hot glue which made a heart, around Jan. 31, 2004, close enough to Feb. 14 to make it an interesting coincidence.  

 

THE HOUSE THAT WALKED..

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This is a house made entirely of genuine DINOSAUR BONE!  No kidding!  It's in Medicine Bow, Wyoming.  Look on either side of the "Fossil Cabin" sign for dinosaur leg bones that are the most obvious, but we checked it out and it's for real!  Ripley's calls it the "Oldest House in the World", the house that "walked 175 million years ago".  Is that cool or what?

 

MR. TURTLE

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This is a GIGANTIC 650 pound carving of a dragon turtle within the boulder, still attached inside!  Chinese artwork, estimated circa 1950's by Tsui Tsan Pin of Chekiang Providence.  Measures about a yard long, 18" wide and high.  WOWS every single person that stepped into our store (we no longer have a storefront, he now graces the foyer of our home as you can see on our home page).  Detail of carving, natural color contrasts from outside to inside of boulder (Chinese native soapstone) and sheer SIZE commands your attention!  We call it "The Ancient One".  Extremely important good luck symbol for  the Chinese -  they generally leave money at his feet and sometimes bow and back away when leaving.  The dragon turtle is also considered an important feng shui symbolism.  It was carved in an isolated area in the Province of Chekiang.

Valued at: $28,000 (this is in our personal collection, not for sale)

If you enjoy Mr. Turtle as much as we do, you can now purchase a reconstituted marble, molded mini version that is REMARKABLE on our Gem Animals page 5, click here:  Gem Animals Page 5

 

SHRUNKEN HEADS

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Shrunken heads from Ecuador (actually it's goatskin that's been dampened and stretched over a wooden face form where it shrunk and dried, was cut away from the form, and hair shaved away, lips sewn shut.  Pretty weird, wouldn't you say?)  Here's more photos of museum quality goat skin shrunken heads we have handled in the past:

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We no longer sell Shrunken Heads, but we recommend you go to this site to buy:

http://www.salangome.com/ 

 

THERE REALLY ARE SHRUNKEN HEADS, BUT THEY'RE IN MUSEUMS

Shrinking a head to the size of a baseball is a grisly but fascinating custom. The people of South America known as the "Jivaro" in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil are well known for shrinking the heads of their enemies.  This practice dates back to 200 B.C.  Raids on alien tribes are carried out specifically to secure "tsantsas", or shrunken head trophies.  The attacks are usually small and carried out on one house where the victim may be caught unawares.  Although the heads of men, women and children are taken, it is more frequently an adult warrior's head that is sought.  The trophies bring prestige to the head takers and trap the "avenging" or "miusak" souls of their victims, giving the taker power and prevention of vengeance against them.

The first step is the removal of the head.  The skin is cut around the top parts of the chest and back, and the head is cut off close to the collar bone.  The head taker then passes a vine through the head to carry it, and makes a fast retreat.  The head is prepared over 5 or 6 days during brief stops on the return home.  A slit is made in the back of the head, and the skin is carefully removed from the skull.  The skull is thrown into the river as a "gift to the anaconda".  The skin is then boiled in plain water or an herbal solution for half an hour.  By now it is half its original size.  It is then placed over a stick and left to dry.

The skin is now turned inside out, and any remaining flesh is scraped away.  It is turned right side out again, and the slip in the back is sewn together and the mouth is tied shut, sometimes the eyes being sewn shut as well.  Several small rocks are heated in a fire and placed into the skin.  They are rolled around inside until cool, dumped, and the process is repeated until the tsantsa has shrunk too much to accommodate the stones.  Hot sand is used to continue the shrinking.  It may be hung over a smoldering fire overnight which turns the color from yellowish to black.  It may be polished with ash as well.  At this time, the head is shaped and a hot knife pressed against the mouth to dry it.  Throughout the shrinking process, the neck must be drawn closed with a string that has been sewn through it, so it will remain proportionate to the head.

The warriors enter the home village with the shrunken heads tied around their necks.  Then the tsantsa rituals begin again...there was a time when these warriors found a commercial gain from selling the heads, and made forays to other tribes for this purpose.  Governments worldwide wisely banned the sale or purchase of real shrunken heads, except for the purpose of display in limited museums.  

So now you know the story of the REAL shrunken heads!

Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum in Myrtle Beach, SC, a genuine shrunken head:

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I apologize for the low quality of the picture, but it was quite dark - I should have used a flash!  But you get the idea.  Ripley's owns the largest collection of genuine shrunken heads in the world.  

Here's a better photo of a REAL shrunken head...

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There's even a comprehensive book available now about genuine shrunken heads (runs about $75) that can be obtained from the Malter Galleries Inc. (go online to find the company).

Finally, if you want to see MORE REAL SHRUNKEN HEADS...

http://www.angelfire.com/id2/tower7/BwanaMuseum.htm

 

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This is an old buffalo vertebrae with a genuine Indian arrowhead protruding from the spinal column.  Good shot!  

$135.00  SOLD

 

DEFORMED ALLIGATOR HEAD COLLECTION

Now individually photographed for sale, link below

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 Three-eyed Wally - our freeze-dried gator head from the bayous in Louisiana (part of our personal collection, this one is not for sale).  

Deformities such as this (a Siamese twin - see the extra upper jaw? --even an extra hole where the 4th eye would have been?) occurred when the oil companies in the 1930's took the byproduct of oil (dioxin), put it in barrels and buried it in the swamps.  It leaked into the water and caused this and other oddities.  

Glenn actually has about 380 heads in the collection  that documents this pollution by man.  We can learn from this!   See more close up photos of the collection on the Gators page 6  

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OOSIK - WHAT'S AN OOSIK?

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Fossilized juvenile walrus oosik, polished, 9" long.   (penis bone).  Some animals, such as seal, sea lion, polar bear, walrus and raccoon do have a real bone, as you see.  How odd is that?  SOLD.    More available on the Oosiks  page (Fossils page 6).

 

STUFFED OSTRICH CHICK

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   This is a REAL ostrich chick, taxidermied when it died at birth at an ostrich farm in California.  It is mounted on a composite base with the egg, and is 17" long x 10" wide x 7" high.  SOLD 3/18/02.  We'll leave the picture for you to enjoy!

 

ONE OF THE WEIRD COLLECTIONS IN THE STORE WE HAD (now our home is called the Weird Museum, I wonder why?)

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This is one of our oddity displays in our store to give you an idea of what we have - FIRST photo - a genuine dinosaur egg, mud concretions from a glacier, strange stones formed by lightning, deformed gator feet & our famous 3-eyed Wally gator, also a blind gator; 

SECOND photo - Pre-Columbian terra cotta necklaces and also beads used in their SLUG worship, human tooth beads; and..are those REAL modern human teeth there?..only the store owners know for sure...then there's our buffalo vertebrae with the arrowhead through to the spinal column, and fossil tree branches from Alaska;

THIRD photo - Our famous Mugwump formation from Area 51 (inverted, it was caused from rainfall that solidified the sand into a type of concretion - but we like to think it was an alien creation to keep the mystery alive!); also our menacing black scorpion, and the emerald beetle made into jewelry after it's eaten.

FOURTH photo - Our Sperm whale tooth chieftan's necklace with etchings made by the natives, and giant stingray barbs (fresh) from Australia.

We've got another large display of identified fossils, (see Fossils pages) and another of unusual gemstones (Rocks & Minerals pages). 

 

Venus GLASS SPONGE
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You'll never guess what this is in a million years! .... give up?  It's the bleached skeleton of a GLASS SPONGE called the Venus Flower Basket (Euplectella aspergillum, phylum Porifera), belonging to a small group of glass sponges (Hexactinellida).  

This sponge lives 1500 to 15,000 feet under the waters of the western Pacific around the Phillipine Islands and Japan.  With a cruel twist of fate, pairs of small shrimp (spongicola) swim through the sieve in the top into the "bridal chamber" and enjoy meals that come through the sieve.  However, the shrimp couple grow too big to get out - the home becomes a jail - but they live happily there, producing young that leave the "home" and find a sponge of their own with their own "bride" or "groom".  The shrimp couple dies together in the sponge, so it becomes their burial coffin as well. 

For centuries, this skeleton of the glass sponge, with its pair of tiny dried shrimp imprisoned inside, was prized as a wedding gift in Japan.  Newlyweds regarded it as a symbol of a long life together into old age and into the same grave.  

One of the more unusual "wedding gifts" we've seen!

How does it form this glass? The sponge extracts silicic acid from seawater and converts it into silica, then forms it into an elaborate skeleton of glass fibers. The sponge's low-temperature process for creating and arranging such fibers may be a useful technology in the fiber optics industry, due to the fact that only high temperature methods are used in this industry now.

RARE LARGE SIZE of between 8 and 10-1/2"; there is a natural mud/sand base where it was removed from the sea floor; considerable variation in curvature and how it stands on the table or lays down.  Suitable for display in a glass dome or low two-prong display stand (not included).  

(We were erroneously told a few months ago that these were endangered, however, they are NOT endangered, they are thriving well.)

individually photographed

AVERAGE 7 to 8" long

$32 ea



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LARGE 9 to 10" long

$37 ea



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TRUE HEART COCKLE SHELL
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#W-90 

TRUE HEART COCKLE SHELL 

(Corculum cardissa)
An amazing, delicate-looking but extremely sturdy shell in the natural shape of a heart, often given as an appropriately romantic gift.  The family Cardiidae is one of the largest and best-known of bivalves. There are over 200 living cockle species and many more fossil forms.

Strong, compact, and heart-shaped, the cockle shell can be rolled over the sands and banged about without any damage to the live mollusc. Its siphons are short, and the foot is also well developed --indeed capable of moving the animal about in short leaps at the surface, where it normally lives. In many cockles, the siphons also bear light receptors.
 
Shell features are: completely symmetrical and equal sized valves; prominent umbones; strong radial ribs, which in some species carry spines; equal size muscle scars; no pallial sinus; and, two cardinal teeth in each valve. The internal margin of the lip may vary from lightly serrated to the definitely crenulated edge view, shown in the two species at right.
Found:  Indo-Pacific
Classification: Bivalvia
Subclass: Pteriomorphia
Order:  Veneroida
Superfamily: Cardiacea
Family:  Cardiidae

One of my favorite shells, a lovely natural heart shape.   It is quite flat with a bulge in the center, totally flat on the back, really no opening to speak of. 

$4.50 each (free shipping)

 

RARE!  A WHOLE TEAK TRUNK of ELEPHANTS

#W-182.  This tree trunk of solid teak is NINE FEET long x Two feet high x 5 to 11" thick variation.  It was carved in Thailand with 20 elephants, all still part of the tree trunk.  We estimate its weight at 300 pounds.  We have mounted it on our bedroom wall on a custom made oak book case with a solid wood top to support its weight:

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Valued at $7,800 but not for sale

To accompany the elephant teak log, we purchased this two elephant head carving (also of teak) that even has EYELASHES on it, it is stunning (not for sale):

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BRAIN CORAL

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#W-183.  (continued from above).  Behind every BRAIN, there's a (hmmm)...a YOU-KNOW WHAT!  I'm sure we'll get a lot of mileage out of this highly unusual, natural specimen of brain coral, don't you think?   Valued at $275.00 but not for sale

 

MUSHROOM CORAL
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(Fungia Scutaria), also called Plate coral or Fungus coral.  This beautiful specimen Heidi received by trading items with a friend.  It is 13" long.  Neat.

 

FOSSIL MUD
  FOSSILIZED MUD from the GREAT LAKES of the MIDWEST

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#W-184. Formed when mud oozed into a bubble formed under the glacial ice, then hardened and fossilized into this bubble shape.  Photos show top and bottom.  Measures 4" x 4-3/4" x 2".

$35.00  SOLD

 

The answer to the weird thing in the yellow box above?

gatortongue.JPG (37639 bytes)

It's a genuine ALLIGATOR TONGUE.  Remember, when alligators are legally hunted and processed, 100% of it is used.  Nothing is wasted.  These are often made into WALLETS.

 

Our latest mystery SOLVED-SEE BELOW  Here's a common Queen Anne's Lace weed, photo sent by Tobi in Ohio.  

carrot-flower.jpg (30073 bytes)

She relates: "The flowers grow wild everywhere and have big, flat heads with tons of tiny petals on top.  I was walking one day and found one that was fluorescent orange.  I picked it because I was afraid they would come mow and it would be lost.  It almost looked like it had been spray painted, but closer inspection showed it was the real color.  I called a botanist at the University of Akron about it, but no one returned my call.

The second flower down on that stalk was already showing the same orange color, but more muted.  I don't know what could be in the soil, it is near buried power lines, and close to a natural wetland area.  When I looked it up in the flower book and saw that it was in the carrot family

Anyone know what in the soil would cause this, or is this just a natural variation?

SOLVED, thanks to our great customer SANDRA.  She relates: "Being an avid gardener and having had past love/hate relationships with Queen Anne's Lace, I was surprised by the color myself.  I've seen very light pink but not orange.  I'd be interested in finding something like that someday and saving the seeds.  I might fall in love with Queen Anne's Lace again!

I've always thought you and Glenn must have the best jobs on the planet.  Sure it's work but just the experiences and learning...makes my mind spin!"  (Indeed we feel lucky, Sandra, and we learn from our customers every single day.  Thanks!  Heidi)

She also gave links to the Carrot Museum for further investigation:

http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/qal.html

The curator responded likewise, adding that the wild carrot in the U.S.A. did appear and colonize from the seeds of cultivated carrots brought by the settlers spreading into the countryside and eventually turning back to their wild form, so I can only guess it could be a throw back.  But if this is so, then it does not stack up with current carrot flowers, irrespective of their root color, always being white.  It could be something in the soil nutrients. 

 

MYSTERY SHELL!

Our friend Hal brought us a framed set of two shell specimens that no one in the Fossil Shell club here in Myrtle Beach can identify.  It was found on the Atlantic shore of North Carolina, both are about 5" long, the operculums intact on both. 

mysteryshell1.JPG (37579 bytes)  mysteryshell2.JPG (39437 bytes)  mysteryshell3.JPG (38940 bytes)  mysteryshell4.JPG (40385 bytes) 

2/24/07 update!  Research by one in the Myrtle Beach Fossil Club brought up the following:

It is a Hippoporidra-edax

Bryozoa/Cleidochasmatidae (found 120 to 180 feet in Florida waters.  Hermit crabs live in them).  Here's a link to a photo of that specimen found through internet research:

http://www.specimenshells.de/bilder/bryozoa/edax_1749.htm

Great sleuthing!

This is a rare BUSYCON CANALICULATUM CHANNELED WHELK.  The rare part is that it is LEFT-HANDED (or sinistral).  It measures a linear 6-1/4" long x 3-3/4" wide.  It just sold for $380, we are honored to have been part of the transferrance of this rare item to an appreciative new owner.

whelk1.JPG (38681 bytes) whelk2.JPG (37516 bytes) whelk3.JPG (36446 bytes) whelk4.JPG (38919 bytes) whelk5.JPG (37558 bytes)

Here is a photo of the usual Right-handed Channeled whelk in the Seashells of North America book:

whelk8.JPG (39763 bytes)

The only left-handed whelks we know of are the Lightning Whelk and the Perverse Whelk, as shown in this publication: "Seashells of North America":

whelk7.JPG (37801 bytes)  whelk6.JPG (36613 bytes)

We sold it for $380 to Mark in Charleston.  Here is Hal, a friend of Helen Tilley who owns the shell, transferring it to Heidi to ship out to Mark today (2/27/07.

hal-heidi-shell.JPG (198760 bytes)

 

10/05/08  TODAY'S MYSTERY?

Friends found these bones on the shores of an island near Myrtle Beach SC.  Are the turtle plastrons (belly bones) or what?  They measure 3-5" across.

turtle bones.JPG (247794 bytes)

If you know for sure, give us a shout!

====================

MYSTERY SOLVED, THANKS TO TOM

This website shows many pictures and sketches of very similar plastrons. 

http://www.oceansofkansas.com/Turtles.html

http://www.oceansofkansas.com/Turtles/hayarch1.jpg

You can see that what they found were two Hyo plastrons and one Hypo.  Now,
from what species of turtle these are, I do not know.

A detailed website for ANYONE interested in turtles.  

THANKS TOM!

But on the next page is our BLUE RIBBON WEIRDEST DISPLAY...

Click To Go To:

The Weirdest Page 2 Page 3 Page 4