African Bullmouth Helmet

There are more than 80 known species of Helmet shells around the world. Helmet shells are known for their wide shape with a short spire and a thicker lip. They can shometimes be spired and sometimes smooth and are widely used in home décor and collections.

Because these shells can be thick in nature they have been used throughout history as carved "Cameo"s which is a method of carving a relief image with a contrasting color to what it is placed on as a background. Such items were very popular in Roman and Renaissance times.