This article describes the conservation of lifting shell decoration on the Mazarin Chest. The relative Bloom, shrinkage, tack, gloss and colour of 16 Japanese and European collagen adhesives were qualitatively ranked. The working properties and appearance of a range of natural and synthetic materials were compared using facsimile shell on lacquer boards. Tests on the pH sensitivity of shell suggested that aqueous adhesives for shell should be pH neutral if possible. The Japanese collagen adhesives <i>tsubu nikawa</i> and <i>kanso shika nikawa</i> in combination with ethanol were selected for use on the Chest.