Arne Ghys Collection

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Since my very early childhood, I have been interested in all aspects of nature, such as animals, flowers, plants, fossils .
My parents had friends who's son was a shell collector. There I saw for the first time a shell collection. I was about eight years old then.
It amazed me how these living creatures could make such nicely formed shells with such beautiful colours. First I collected seashells in general, but after some time, I realised this is an impossible task So I decided to specialize. Because of the infinite variety of colours the decision was quickly made: Pectinidae and Propeamusiidae. At the moment I have about two thousand pectin shells and I am still looking for other species, colour forms and shells from different localities.
This will be a never ending work.
All my pectens are classified in drawers and plastic boxes. The general collection is ranged in showcases of glass.
I spent almost all my free time in working at my collection and visiting shell shows.
Every year, my wife and I try to make a shell trip. This can be a nearby holiday or a trip to an exotic country. This year we choose to visit Bretagne in France. Hereby you find a picture of me searching for Chlamys varia in the Atlantic Ocean.

photos and text by Arne