GOAN SHELL WINDOWS

The Treasure of Goan Architecture - Oyster Shell (Nacre) Windows

A row of vertically sliding nacre windows at my Goan ancestral house (Cansaulim - Goa)

Goa extends far beyond its sun-kissed beaches, delectable cuisine, vibrant carnivals and the burgeoning casino scene.This vintage state is of something much more, by unwrapping the treasures of history, it is immensely a creator's palette. 

Proudly displaying its magnificent architecture dating back to the Indo-Portuguese era, Goan architecture is renowned for its sustainability, intricate designs, decorative elements and practicality. 

One such important architectural element that reflects the ultimate essence of the Goan craftsmanship's ethnicity, is the "Mother of Pearl (Nacre) Shell Windows".

Shell Windows at my ancestral Goan house at Marcela-Goa.

As seen in the photos, the arches of the windows too were decorated with these shells but sometimes alternatively with plain, etched or stained glass. 

The impetus behind crafting an array of replica shell windows as souvenirs for our store, each adorned with unique shapes and patterns, was twofold: a desire to rekindle our architectural heritage and a deep-seated nostalgia for the cherished memories of my three enchanting ancestral Goan homes, which remain beautifully preserved to this day. 

The shell, serving as the cornerstone of our boutique's logo, encapsulates this sentiment perfectly.

The Goa Decor Logo 

The iridescent oyster shell windows elegantly adorn the heritage monuments and old Goan houses, encapsulating the essence of a bygone era with their aesthetic appeal. They diffuse abundant light into the space while preserving the privacy of the room, owing to their translucent beauty.

During the Portuguese era, skilled Goan craftsmen fashioned these windows using locally sourced nacre from the oyster shells found along the nearby shorelines.

In the heyday of Goa's fishing community, harvesting oyster shells provided a significant income stream. These shells, carefully selected for their matured ivory hue, were meticulously cut and shaped before being embedded into the wooden panels of the windows. Often, a small rectangular glass peephole was added to afford glimpses of the outdoors from within the comfort of the home.

While highlighting the practical advantages and cultural significance of oyster shells in Goan architecture, it's important to delve into the mystical beliefs surrounding these treasures of the sea. Ancient Indian lore suggests that the presence of mother of pearl shells within the home brings prosperity and wellness, tapping into the natural energies imbued within them. Revered as a symbol of abundance in the mineral kingdom, mother of pearl is believed to harness the healing powers of the ocean. 

Goan artisans ingeniously fused these mystical beliefs with practical design, seamlessly integrating the nacre from oyster shells as a multifunctional architectural element.

However, with the encroachment of Western culture and architecture, the authentic craftsmanship and distinctive architectural style of Goa gradually waned, marking a poignant shift in the region's cultural landscape.

At Goa Decor, we are dedicated to reviving many such unique cultural icons of Goa with utmost passion and commitment.

In our endeavour to breathe life into lost treasures of history, I am grateful for the generous amount personal collection of spare shells preserved at our ancestral houses, likely intended for window panes. These shells were once abundant, sourced from the roadside fisher folks along the route to Chicalim bay, before the bay was designated as protected. As a result we will be creating a very limited creation of these window for display at the gallery. 

Furthermore, we have meticulously used only broken shell pieces which proved ideal for our tiny replicas. 

However, please note that this personal collection is limited and used only for replica windows and Goan wall decor elements. 

Due to scarcity of these shells, most of the times we incorporate shell replicas like coloured glass, mirrors, fiber-boards and other reflective materials as replacement to create our Goan window decor, in order to enhance its aesthetic appeal. 

              The gallery displays a limited edition of these Goan windows that unleash the cultural and architectural heritage of Goa.

Our (flower pattern) handcrafted wooden openable window at display at the gallery. 

                                                             (created by using paste broken pieces)

NOTE:

   * No live/dead oysters were harvested or harmed to obtain the nacre (the thin hard lining inside the oyster shells) used in creating these windows displayed at the gallery. Only our personal spare shells from ancestral houses were uitilised.      

   * Also, we have carefully used the waste broken pieces of this precious nacre in the making of few tiny replicas.  

   * Few fellow Goans were kind enough to share a portion of salvaged shells from old Goan mansions in the initial days (2020) because of which we could display few patterns of these beautiful handcrafted creations. 

   * We used local seasoned wood and engineered wood to create these windows.

  

For the love of Goa by a Goan,

GALLERY:  F8, Silvio Heights, 1st floor, St-Inez, Panaji - Goa 

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