Community post
Pāua shell foot
That is a really nice pendant you have - my student told me two weeks ago when I entered his home. It was a white pendant I had that day, made from a polished shell cut into a rhomboid shape. The white and pink colours shine through, and they break up the monotony of black clothes perfectly, which is why I like it.
As my student's hobby (one of the hobbies apart from learning the piano) is making jewellery, he would start talking about it with great joy every time we have the opportunity. When he saw the white seashell pendant around my neck, he brought out a box full of greenish and bluish pieces of shells. Like broken pieces of a bigger "something". At first, I had no idea what these unusual fragments were. How did you get them? I asked with a smile. You didn't go diving to get these shells, did you?
Oh no, of course I didn't. I would have to go diving to the other side of the world to get them. I heard his answer. These are pieces of Abalone shells, specifically Pāua shells from New Zealand. I bought them as material for my jewellery.
How exotic. Hey, this fragment looks like a foot. This is the heel, and here are the toes, I explained and showed what I saw. That morning, during my Sunday morning gig in the hotel, someone told me that I was gently walking my fingers over the keys of the piano, and I guess that is why that broken piece of shell caught my eye and reminded me of a foot.
There was no negotiation; my student immediately said that it would be a gift for me, that he would polish the edges and drill a hole to make it into a pendant. I can't argue with him because when it comes to giving me something, he is stubborn and you can't convince him otherwise. And I really liked the shape and the colours that can't be described with words, so actually I was waiting for the pendant to be finished with great excitement. He attached it to a fine gold necklace (also as a part of the gift) so here it is, finished, and for the very first time it was in my hand today:
The photos don't really do it justice. 😔 I can't take pictures that truly capture the colours and how they change depending on the angle. Well, you will just have to believe me (or not) how its rainbow-like iridescence is pretty, but I hope you can appreciate a bit the blue, green, silver, turquoise, and purple colours from the pictures. I was moving it just a bit so you can see the different hues of these colours:
There is also a bit of red or orange colours, depending on the light and background colours that are reflected a bit like in a mirror. It is like having a piece of living matter in your hands that is constantly changing.
The more I observe this fragment of the Pāua shell, the more shapes and meanings I see in it. I also see a head and a body covered with a veil or other rough material. Maybe a person praying or holding something or someone. Maybe it carries some sadness, or is full of gratitude; it depends on how you see it in a certain moment. In any case, I see it as a beautiful piece of a shell, so fragile but resilient at the same time. This also reminds me of a poem we heard yesterday in a movie, recited by Morgan Freeman in his role of Nelson Mandela. It was William Ernest Henley's poem Invictus that, according to the movie, helped the imprisoned Nelson get up day by day and carry on.
From the other side, it was easier to take a photo of the shell pendant as it is not so shiny. From this perspective, it looks like a spread wing or just a piece of a rock or maybe even a piece of cork. Here we can also see the mixture of warm and cold colours, but in a completely different relief.
Still, I am referring to it as a foot again, that little part of us that helps us walk through this life in the way we should. Through this unique pendant, I can keep and carry that precious reminder close to my chest. And I think it will fit with the majority of the clothes I wear, at least with the things I tried on today with the pendant.
Replies (36)
The pendant is beautiful in a myriad of ways.
It looks sublime on you. I can only imagine the joy it brings you to wear it. 💚
perfect accessory for a nice walk on the beach :D
Is really a beautiful gift by the way!!
looks realy nice indeed , lucky you :)
Good evening @mipiano, how wonderful it is sometimes to have stubborn people so close. The gift is perfect, and I also thought it looked like a multicolored foot. An elegant multicolored foot, enjoy it very much.
I hope you have a great start to the week.
It is an honour to wear this unique pendant. I am glad you also find it beautiful! How are things on your side? 🎶
hey hey, great to see you! how are you?
I also think the same. Espero estás bien, un gran saludo 👋
Having a piano student who is also a jeweller by hobby is indeed luck! ✨
Good evening @enraizar. You are right, I agree with you. Tú sabes dónde vive este alumno que ha hecho este colgante, cuando viniste con nosotros. Ahora este pie camina conmigo, ya no está en caja durmiendo...
Thank you and a great start to the week to you too!
What a lovely present!!! I love it!! And it has that message on the sole… about walking through life, and its changing colours are beautiful, especially when the pink and green really stand out. You deserve it; it’s perfect for you and I’m sure it’ll bring you luck and protection. 💗
Ohhhh, yk, I feel like that kind of pendant will also look really great in this kind of necklace made with something
I just grabbed it on shoppee and I can't help but imagine it in a black necklace like this. But anyways it really look so unique. It also looke like a pendat that a tribe leader will wear, dunno why that's what I first thought after seeing it.
That's such a beautiful pendant indeed!!
Good morning @mipiano, I remember what you said about the student. Walking with a foot like that must be like walking with a hug, a kiss or an ‘I love you’...
Espero que disfrutes de un gran lunes. 🤗
Good afternoon @enraizar
Walking with such a foot is a blessing... Gracias, espero que tú también tengas un igualmente gran lunes! Avísanos si por casualidad para las fiestas de San Juan bajas a Alicante 🌊
I don't know if I deserve it or not, but that is how my student felt that I have to have it, as he is too generous. I knew you would like its pink colour 💓
I've seen some beautiful abalone shells because they are a Chinese delicacy, and your piece is lovely, with its unusual shape. I can't unsee the foot now you've mentioned it.
You have some really interesting students
totally get where the foot reference came from from your student, that is a wise one :D
Looks like a nice centre piece to wear actually, doesnt need a lot more.
NICE!
I also thought about it, but he made it with that gold necklace so it is even more worthy. Now I can't forget about the tribe leader thing you say... mipiano, the Piano Tribe leader... 🤔 hmmm, somehow it doesn't match the meaning this particular pendant represents to me
I love it, I love it, I love it!😍
It indeed is. Thank you, Gabriela ✨
Life is unique, so our pendants should be unusual and unique too 👣
You are right, I do have some interesting students, though this one is the same one who has the orange orchard 😉
👣
That is right, it doesn't need almost anything else. I think it is "simple", but it really stands out with its unusual shape and colours. Thanks @karinxxl, I hope you are doing well! 👋
heyyy... yeah, I'm always here, just lurking. Still kind of in recovery mentally but I'm doing good!
Sending some view that could maybe speed up the recovery a little bit ;)
Swapping Samuel L. Jackso for Morgan Freema in the byline is a bold move, especially when you’re trying to keep the legacy vibe intact. As a fresh‑face on Hive, I’m digging the confidence boost—though I’m kinda wondering if Morgan’s ready to shoulder that Hollywood‑level swagger. 😂 It’s wild how a tiny name tweak can feel like a whole brand makeover. Guess the real drama isn’t in the code but in who gets the credit spotlight.
yesss :D ummm... i can't recall how the saying went exactly... something about a big blue lake?!? I should look it up in the comment history :P you know what I mean!
The saying is that the Mediterranean Sea is a big salty lake 🌊
Though this photo was taken somewhere in April, so it is not so sunny, but I didn't want to repeat any of the posted photos in posts
P.S. one sunnier photo should come today (or tomorrow) 🌞
that's what it was!!! 💕💙💚
Good evening @mipiano... I won't be going down to Alicante for San Juan this year...
I hope you have a wonderful time with the bonfires, fireworks, and the beach.
Have a great night!!
Good evening @enraizar
I don't think we are going to bonifers alone, just if there were more people to spend time together, like Hive people ;)
Thank you, a great night to you too, and good night for later 💤
I lacked foresight... something to correct for next year. I wish you sweet dreams.😊
😅 Buenas noches o buenos días!! 🤗
Buenos días @enraizar 🌞
Buenas tardes @mipiano, espero que el día haya sido productivo y feliz. 😊🤗