Pretty much anything you can think of can be folded with origami and that definitely includes seashells. Not only are there a lot of fantastic origami seashell designs but with all the amazing colours and patterns of origami paper available you can really make some beautiful and unique looking seashells that might even rival the real thing.

When it comes to origami seashells Tomoko Fuse probably has the most famous design with this spiral origami navel shell.

Navel Shell, Designed by Tomoko Fuse and Folded by Hilli Zenz

Video instructions available from Happy Folding’s YouTube channel

Origami seashells can get quite complex and realistic looking like this design by David Derudas.

Caracola, Designed by David Derudas and Folded by Artur Biernacki

Diagrams available in Origami Tanteidan 5th Convention Book

Just like in real life origami shells come in all kinds of different shapes.

Shell, Designed by Meguro Toshiyuki and Folded by Artur Biernacki

Instructions not available

Petr Stuchlý designed some amazing clam shells for a monthly origami challenge.

Giant Clam, Designed and Folded by Petr Stuchlý

Instructions not available

This next shell has a pretty complex design and it’s very impressive how small this one ended up being.

Venus Comb Murex, Designed by Shotaro Mineo and Folded by Xu Daniel

Crease pattern available from Shotaro Mineo’s Flickr

Here’s a different murex shell design by Robert J. Lang.

Murex Shell, Designed by Robert J. Lang and Folded by Eyal

Instructions not available

This is another design by Robert J. Lang for a Spider Conch.

Spider Conch, Designed by Robert J. Lang and Folded by Magali

Diagrams available in Origami Under the Sea

Here’s a whole bunch of beautiful looking paper navel shells. The choice of paper for each of these shells really makes them look amazing.

Navel Shell, Designed by Tomoko Fuse and Folded by Hilli Zenz

Video instructions available from Happy Folding’s YouTube channel

Here’s another great navel shell from an unknown folder.

Navel Shell, Designed by Tomoko Fuse with an Unknown Folder

Video instructions available from Happy Folding’s YouTube channel

While not technically a seashell you often do see starfish collected together with seashells so here’s a really great photo of some origami starfish.

Starfish, Designed and Folded by Nguyen Ngoc Vu

Instructions not available

Here’s another fantastic clam shell sort of design complete with a paper pearl.

Jamie’s Camino, Designed by Hoàng Tiến Quyết and Folded by Adriano Davanzo

Diagrams available from www.forum.origami.vn

Here’s David Derudas’ origami caracola shell again this time photographed from several different angles.

Caracola, Designed by David Derudas and Folded by Origami bluedandelion

Diagrams available in Origami Tanteidan 5th Convention Book

This is another excellent spiral shell design this time designed by Meguro Toshiyuki.

Shell, Designed by Meguro Toshiyuki and Folded by Artur Biernacki

Diagrams available in Origami Tanteidan 12th Convention Book

And here’s David Derudas’ shell again this time folded by Natalia Romanenko.

Caracola, Designed by David Derudas and Folded by Natalia Romanenko

Diagrams available in Origami Tanteidan 5th Convention Book

This is another very different but still very awesome looking seashell design by Tomoko Fuse. This time it’s a modular shell that’s made by assembling 4 units.

Modular Spiral Shell, Designed by Tomoko Fuse and Folded by Maria Sinayskaya

Diagrams available in らせんを折ろう (Let’s Fold Spirals)

The paper used this time to make Tomoko Fuse’s navel shell makes the model look almost completely life-like.

Navel Shell, Designed by Tomoko Fuse and Folded by Hande Orhun

Video instructions available from Happy Folding’s YouTube channel

Here’s this model again but in the dark with light behind it and it looks absolutely amazing.

Navel Shell, Designed by Tomoko Fuse and Folded by Hande Orhun

Video instructions available from Happy Folding’s YouTube channel

This great looking murex shell is designed by Artur Biernacki.

Murex, Designed by Artur Biernacki and Folded by Eric Madrigal

Crease pattern available from Artur Biernacki’s Flickr

Here’s more awesome navel shells photographed at a German origami convention.

Navel Shell, Designed by Tomoko Fuse and Folded by Hilli Zenz (Photograph by IlseZ)

Video instructions available from Happy Folding’s YouTube channel

Here’s another fantastic origami seashell design by Satoshi Kamiya of a turban shell.

Turban Shell, Designed by Satoshi Kamiya and Folded by Hiroaki Kobayashi

Diagrams available in Works of Satoshi Kamiya 2, 2002 – 2009

Our last paper seashell this time is this incredible version of Robert J. Lang’s murex. This time it’s photographed from the other side.

Murex Shell, Designed by Robert J. Lang and Folded by Magali

Instructions not available

There are pretty much all the origami seashells I could find. If you know of any other awesome ones let me know in the comments.

Be sure to check out all these talented origami artists and send them some comments on their work if you like it.