Mixed media artwork from ancient Arabic mythology about a giant crab that resembled an island. The crab is made with upcycled blue beads. The background is like an antique sea chart with galleons illustrated on it. Semi-precious stones mark out small islands and two shells add to the maritime theme.

Closeup of a large bead pendant in blue and silver used to suggest the body of a giant crab. Decorative moss in green and terracotta colours plus chips of shell and sodalite are meant to resemble hills and forests on the crab's back.

Mixed media artwork in a white shadow box about a mythical giant crab called a Saratan. Beads, shells and semi-precious stones help to create the scene set on a vintage-style sea chart.

A mythical crab made with upcycled blue beads has its front claws poised around an illustration of a galleon on a vintage-style sea chart. The giant crab resembles an island and is from Arabic folklore.

Saratan Mythical Crab Island

Name: Saratan Mythical Crab Island
SKU: SARATAN
Price: 30.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

My Saratan mythical crab island mixed media artwork tells a story from the ancient world of a giant crab that resembled an island. Unwary sailors who anchored nearby to explore could find themselves dragged into the watery depths. The story comes from Arabic folklore but can be found replicated in a variety of tales.

My Saratan or Zaratan as it is sometimes spelled, was inspired by the last of three large silver and blue pendant pieces that used to be part of a necklace. I added a selection of upcycled blue beads for its legs with sodalite chips at the tips. The crab’s back was said to have hills, valleys and forests on it giving it the appearance of an island. I have used clumps of decorative moss and chips of shell and sodalite to help give that impression.

In addition, I have used a couple of shells to add to the maritime theme all mounted on a background paper like an antique sea chart. Small islands on the chart have been picked out with tiny natural garnet chips and two chunks of red chalcedony surround one of the shells. Sprigs of foliage mark out areas of land and I’ve used pieces of recycled card to mark the galleon’s pennants. Cogs ornament the compass discs.

The white shadow box frame is 24.5 cm square and can be hung on the wall or displayed on a shelf. UK postage is included in the price.

If you would like to learn a little more about the Saratan story, please read the short blog post that I’ve written about it. To see what I did with the other two pendant pieces, please take a look at Blue Man Storm Kelpie and Ancient Wonders Scarab Beetle.

£30.00

1 in stock