Terrapin

Terrapin. Model. This is a carved model of a terrapin (they spend half their time in the water). It has been carved from a mid tone brown coloured wood material referred to as eme (Prionopids ferruginea; Miro). It has been carved as one entire component. It features four short stubs for legs (on which it stands), an oval shell for its back and a long sphere-like head at the front. Its shell segmentations have been engraved on the flattish 'shell'. The eyes have been defined by an inlay of a lighter type of wood material that has been inserted. The belly of the turpin shows the engraved lettering of the maker: 'JOHN CHRISTIAN MBE PITCAIRN IS.' The Galapagos land tortoises were introduced to Pitcairn Islands in the late 1930s by European voyagers. Today only one turpin has survived out of a total of five originally introduced. The terrapin is a protected and cared for species on Pitcairn Island.