Clam oils
Another weekend in Tusk. Today started out pretty chilly and grey, but the sun came out in the afternoon and I had some visitors. Sold a few clothing items, I think people are looking for some new looks :) It turns out it is not yellow tulips in my planter out front like I thought but instead miniature daffodils that just came up and I love them.
In 2018 I traveled to China to meet (my boyfriend at the time and now spouse!) Galen’s family and friends. Galen’s parents live in Wuhan and that is where Galen grew up. It was such a special trip, meeting his parents for the first time, seeing where he went to school, and seeing wonders such as the Great Wall. While there I noticed these clam shells for sale in corner stores, street markets, and seeing women take them out of their pockets on the train. I love and collect shells as so many of us do so I was definitely intrigued. I came to learn they were called “clam oils.” Inside the shell there was an ointment to be used on the skin and nails, as a protector/moisturizer. The clam stays closed thanks to the amazing anatomy of the shell. It’s a perfect object to hold, have in your pocket, a comforting texture, the perfect little container.
So of course I started buying them whenever I saw them and Galen’s parents were confused why I was so excited by them. I started a little pile to take home to give to friends and to have at Tusk.
It is hard to find much information about them. I asked Galen and his parents and have tried to do some research. I think it is one of those things that people will tell you has always been around. Most of what I can find states that they emerged in the early 20th century. In the 60s and 70s during a time of material scarcity in China they were widely used, as there were not many products being manufactured and resources were scarce. The price was just a few cents for one during that time so they were accessible. The use of the ointment inside would help heal skin problems or protect in harsh conditions. The ointment contains simple ingredients such as petroleum jelly, mineral oil, and vegetable oils like tea oil, white oil, and castor oil.
During the Tang dynasty (7th-10th century) it is known that clam shells were used to protect or hold precious items, suggesting a long standing tradition of using the clam shells as containers. I also found some images of silver hinged clam boxes made during that era that time that are so stunning.
Thanks to Galen’s parents Tusk stays stocked with clam oils if you would like one, I also think they make a great gift <3
i still have my clam oil i bought from tusk i believe from around the time of that trip :)