Really? An Oyster Shell from Denmark?
“How did I get an oyster shell from Denmark?”
In 2020 I saw an Instagram post showing some beautiful oysters from Denmark. I immediately commented that the shells looked like they needed to be photographed. (Hint, hint!) I was ecstatic when a reply graciously offered to send me some empty shells. With each passing week I began to wonder if the promise of shells was too good to be true.
Who would take the time to clean and package oyster shells and send them to someone they had never met on the other side of the Atlantic?
After much hopeful waiting I received an entire box of shells thanks to Colin Seymour. I didn’t discover until many months later that he was the Director of the Shellfish Capitol of Denmark on the island of Mors in the Limfjord and working to call attention to Danish shellfish experiences. Wow!! When I began my journey as a photographer I was told I needed to become familiar with Instagram. I had no idea this platform would have such a huge impact on my work.
These Limfjord Flat Oyster shells filled me with anticipation for what I would discover when looking through my camera lens. They are so different from the Malpeque oysters we have here on Prince Edward island.
Besides having beautifully round flat shells this is what I’ve learned about them so far. The European flat oyster (ostrea edulis), more commonly known there as the Limfjord oyster is a native inhabitant in Denmark. It’s the northernmost climate in which this native oyster can live. They’re famous for growing slowly, resulting in a firmer texture and more complex taste—a celebrity among bivalve enthusiasts. The oyster beds on the Island of Mors, dubbed the Shellfish Capital of Denmark, are part of the last large colony of wild European oysters left in the world. The shallow Limfjord waters are teeming with oysters making it very easy to harvest them by hand if you have wellies, a bucket and a shovel!
What evolved was an entire series of Oyster Art inspired by them. Here are five of them which are available for purchase. Simply click on the image for details.
If you’d like to learn more about the Limfjord Flat Oysters and the place they’re from these websites will help:
