Schelp of verfschelp c. 1590 - 1596

This is a 16th-century scallop shell, "Schelp of verfschelp" that was used to hold paint pigments. The shell is 8.4 cm in diameter and is made of a light brown material. The shell has a slightly rough texture and the natural markings of the scallop are still visible. The shell is a prime example of a simple yet functional object used in art creation. This artifact is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.