Her Majesty the Queen of Cuttlefish
The theme for "Smile on Saturday" for the 19th of July is "creative with shells", where as the title suggests, we need to be creative with shells, so do something interesting with them. Now, I do enjoy fossicking along the beaches I visit, and I am known to gather shells. A while ago I came across a large number of cuttlefish bones on one of my walks, so I picked them up and brought them home. I used them to take a few creative photographs and then I got rid of them, as unlike other shells which lose their seaside smell, theirs only intensified because what they are made of is so porous. Now, you might say, “but the theme is about being creative with shells, not bones.” Let me assure you that in spite of their name, cuttlefish bones or cuttlebones are not really bones at all. They are in fact a brittle internal shell of a cuttlefish which allow them to control their buoyancy. Therefore, unless I am told otherwise, I believe this is an acceptable choice for this week’s theme. When I took my photographs, for one, I copied a chromolithographic image of Queen Elizabeth I from one of my Victorian era chocolate advertising cards and enlarged the image. I then covered over The Queen’s stiffened lace ruff with a halo of cuttlefish bones beneath her head. I think that is quite creative enough for this week’s theme. I hope you like my choice for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile!
Cuttlebone, also known as cuttlefish bone, is a hard, brittle internal structure (an internal shell) found in all members of the family Sepiidae, commonly known as cuttlefish, within the cephalopods. In other cephalopod families it is called a gladius. Cuttlebone is composed primarily of aragonite. It is a chambered structure that the animal can fill with gas or liquid for buoyancy control. On the bottom side of the cuttlebone is the highly modified organ with which the cuttlebone is filled with gas or liquid. The microscopic structure of cuttlebone consists of narrow layers connected by numerous upright pillars. When the cuttlefish dies, only the cuttlebone remains and will often wash up on a beach. In the past, cuttlebones were ground up to make polishing powder, which was used by goldsmiths. The powder was also added to toothpaste, and was used as an antacid for medicinal purposes or as an absorbent. They were also used as an artistic carving medium during the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Today, cuttlebones are commonly used as calcium-rich dietary supplements for caged birds and are not intended for human consumption.
Her Majesty the Queen of Cuttlefish
The theme for "Smile on Saturday" for the 19th of July is "creative with shells", where as the title suggests, we need to be creative with shells, so do something interesting with them. Now, I do enjoy fossicking along the beaches I visit, and I am known to gather shells. A while ago I came across a large number of cuttlefish bones on one of my walks, so I picked them up and brought them home. I used them to take a few creative photographs and then I got rid of them, as unlike other shells which lose their seaside smell, theirs only intensified because what they are made of is so porous. Now, you might say, “but the theme is about being creative with shells, not bones.” Let me assure you that in spite of their name, cuttlefish bones or cuttlebones are not really bones at all. They are in fact a brittle internal shell of a cuttlefish which allow them to control their buoyancy. Therefore, unless I am told otherwise, I believe this is an acceptable choice for this week’s theme. When I took my photographs, for one, I copied a chromolithographic image of Queen Elizabeth I from one of my Victorian era chocolate advertising cards and enlarged the image. I then covered over The Queen’s stiffened lace ruff with a halo of cuttlefish bones beneath her head. I think that is quite creative enough for this week’s theme. I hope you like my choice for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile!
Cuttlebone, also known as cuttlefish bone, is a hard, brittle internal structure (an internal shell) found in all members of the family Sepiidae, commonly known as cuttlefish, within the cephalopods. In other cephalopod families it is called a gladius. Cuttlebone is composed primarily of aragonite. It is a chambered structure that the animal can fill with gas or liquid for buoyancy control. On the bottom side of the cuttlebone is the highly modified organ with which the cuttlebone is filled with gas or liquid. The microscopic structure of cuttlebone consists of narrow layers connected by numerous upright pillars. When the cuttlefish dies, only the cuttlebone remains and will often wash up on a beach. In the past, cuttlebones were ground up to make polishing powder, which was used by goldsmiths. The powder was also added to toothpaste, and was used as an antacid for medicinal purposes or as an absorbent. They were also used as an artistic carving medium during the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Today, cuttlebones are commonly used as calcium-rich dietary supplements for caged birds and are not intended for human consumption.