Tortoiseshell and Engraving
‘Next we shall treat of the green tortoise, or turtle, which are a strange kind of amphibious creature’
Jamaica in 1687, The Taylor Manuscript, David Buisseret, p151
Courtesy University of South Carolina, USA
A wide ranging section covering:
Construction of the tortoiseshell pieces
What is tortoiseshell, its’ characteristics and processing
An examination of the differing styles of engraving
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Who was Paul Bennett and his role as ‘The Maker’ and engraver?
Engraving, tools and techniques and the use of stencils, prints and templates
The Jamaican coat of arms and heraldic colours as represented on tortoiseshell
The apprenticeship system and combmakers guild
Gold and Silversmiths