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Story: Shellfish

A shell trumpet

Image
A shell trumpet

Shell trumpets or pūtara were constructed from the shells of Charonia lampas, New Zealand’s largest sea snails, or from washed-up triton shells (C. tritonis).

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: F.005479/12

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Shellfish – Food and other uses, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/8040/a-shell-trumpet (accessed 14 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.