Tortoise Wins Again
November, 1978
modern livingWealthy ancient Romans prized tortoise shell as an ornamental veneer for their furniture. And until recently, it was used for everything from snuffboxes to cabinetry inlays. We can understand why. Tortoise shell (taken mainly from the hawksbill turtle) has a compelling, masculine appearance that makes even insignificant objects such as tissue and cotton-ball containers appear incredibly good-looking. None of the items pictured here is made of genuine tortoise shell, of course, but t...
