Technically, it is a Pecten shell. The Shell company was founded in 1891 by Marcus Samuel and Company who, at the time imported shells from the orient to sell to Victorian naturalists. They later realised the potential for selling oil for use in table lamps and the rest, as they say, is history.

Not a lot of people know that

 

soil Ian?

:sorrytobesmartasssmiley:

 

Hmmmmmmm...that was probably oil...I believe they tried soil but there was little market for it - it really didnt burn all that well. Edited