This iconic Scallop Shell ornament reminds us of the premier symbol of St. James and the Camino de Santiago, the distinctive Northeast Atlantic scallop shell. The ornament comes to us from the St. Nicolas company in London, England. It is about three inches in height and made from cloth.

The St. Nicolas company specializes in “bespoke” Christmas tree decorations and souvenirs. St. Nicolas’s beautiful handcrafted pieces can be bought at museum shops and historic homes in numerous countries. On our Bayou City Press Christmas Travel Tree, we have St. Nicolas decorations from the Hastings Museum (William the Conqueror and King Harold), London (Westminster Abbey), Paris (Notre Dame), Chenonceau (Diane de Poitiers and the chateau), and Dublin (St. Patrick), among other St. Nicolas items.

The Scallop Shell ornament is handmade using the traditional Indian method of zardozi embroidery. Zari—meaning gold—embroidery originated in Persia and reached India in the 12th century. It is a highly skilled embroidery technique that traditionally used gold wires and jewels to embellish courtly robes. Zardozi work is now a rare and respected craft, the skills of which continue to be handed down from generation to generation. Zari-work is now officially recognized as one of the “Ancient Handicrafts” by the Government of India. St. Nicolas has been supporting the same family-run zardozi business in Northern India for over 20 years. St. Nicolas is a member of BAFTS (British Association of Fair Trade Suppliers) and supports the 10 Principles of Fair Trade, as set out by the World Fair Trade Organization.

Bayou City Press has admired the St. Nicolas figurines for years, and we are pleased to be able to offer this Scallop Shell decoration to our subscribers.