This victorian piece is a real ocean conch shell.  It has been carved in different areas.  The front is carved out and inside, diorama style, is a boy wearing a pink suit, saluting.  He is surrounded by seashells ( all in tact).  The hand painting on side was flowers but the paint has worn as has some of the letters.  The words on the side say Souvenir Columbus, O.  There are some minor chips on the underside of the shell otherwise I can find no other chips or cracks.  The shell has a some staining but overall it's in very nice condition.  This is a very cool and unique item and has been well taken care of. It is a great standout piece for maritime fold art enthusiasts.