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Nodipecten nodosus fragosus (Conrad, 1849) Lions-paw Scallop |
| In years gone by, perfect specimens of the Lions-paw Scallop were not as readily available as they presently are to the collector - especially specimens with perfect knobs, attractive coloration and a large size, traits that most appeal to collectors. Consequently there were those who stepped in to help satisfy this unmet demand. The 100 mm. specimen shown below is from an old collection circa. 1970 and serves as an example of some of the craftsmanship that was employed for such quality enhancement . Upon initial examination it appeared to be an unusually nice specimen with the exception of being somewhat dirty/dusty. When placed under flowing tap water and lightly brushed to remove the accumulated dirt, the truth became obvious when red colored water streamed off the shell revealing the extensive repairs that had been made both to the knobs and other parts of the shell using a putty-like substance. The craftsmanship was so good that it is likely the doctoring might forever have gone undetected had non-water-soluble paint been used. Interestingly, the matching valve was perfect and was not doctored. |
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