The following is an excerpt from an 1888 book entitled Art Recreations by L. B. Urbino.
Shell Work
This is very pretty for vases, frames, boxes, etc. Many shell flowers, animals, bird, and the like, are brought here from the Mediterranean. We have seen some that we would like to own; but in general they have a stiff appearance. However, we will tell you how they are made.
Assort your shells according to size and color - the more rice and other small shells you have, the better. Melt white wax and glue together, two parts of the former and one of the latter. Have a clear idea of what you intend to do, or, what is better, make a pattern before you begin to set your shells. If you will ornament a box, a rose in the center looks well. Take thin round shells, those most resembling rose leaves, of the smaller size, and dipping the lower ends in the hot wax mixture, set them close together for the center of a rose; place other similar shaped shells around in circles, the largest outward. Care must be taken to form the shells into perfect circles, and to take up wax enough to make them adhere to the cover. Shells of different form, say more oblong, can be used for leaves. After arranging such figures as you like with the shells you have, fill up the spaces with the very small ones. Rice shells are the prettiest, but they are costly. Some prefer sticking the shells into a puttied surface, which does very well. Varnish with a very little copal varnish, using great care. Animals are made of thick pastboard, or turned in wood, and covered with one kind of shell.
Shell Flowers - The basis of each large flower is a piece of thick round pasteboard. The shells for petals are sometimes tinged with water color, and the leaves made of green paper. Delicate sprays are made by threading small shells on fine wire. Thus made, with half a dozen huge black berries of wax on the top, in a vase all covered with shells, it will pass for the imported article.
Ornaments for the hair are made from rice shells, thus; File down the conical end of the shell, and clean out the opposite end with a pin; pass a silver wire (a guitar string) through the filed end, bring it down and twist for a stalk. From fifteen to twenty pairs on one branch, neatly covered with white or green silk floss. Two or three such stalks of different lengths are sufficient.
Satin beads wired with a guitar string, and wound in pairs to form sprigs, with now and then a tendril, are beautiful for evening dress.
In almost every family, enough shells, small and appropriate, can be found to make some ornamental article. Sea captains bring home valuable collections; and who among our readers has not some friends or acquaintances who "go down to the sea in ships"?