Crab with shells thumbnail 1
Crab with shells thumbnail 2
+3
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Crab with shells

Statuette
ca. 1745 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bronze was probably cast directly from a real crab. The body was covered in clay and fired in a kiln. It was completely burnt in the process, leaving space in the clay mould for liquid bronze to be poured in and allowed to cool, providing an exact replica of the crab. It is thought to date from the nineteenth century and to be based on the design by Nicholas Sprimont for a pair of salt cellars in the Royal Collection, made for Frederick, Prince of Wales in 1742-3.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleCrab with shells
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Salt cellar in the form of a Crab with Shells, bronze, probably after a design by Nicholas Sprimont (1716-1771), English, ca. 1745
Physical description
Crab with shells, bronze. The composition which is probably cast from nature shows a crab on a roughly oval base studded with shells and wood, before it is a large shell on to which it holds with its left pincer and two right forelegs. The right pincer which was originally presumably helf up has been broken off. The crab is a common shore crab frequent in European waters and the Adriatic and the shells are also European varieties.
Dimensions
  • Length: 16.5cm
  • Depth: 10cm
  • Height: 6cm
Dimensions were taken by SCP on 27.10.14 for Bronze Zoo: A Sculptural Menagerie
Object history
Purchased for £45 from Mr F Hughes, 9 Alfred Road, Sutton, Surrey. Webb Bequest
Historical context
The composition is almost identical with that of a silver salt in the Royal Collections at Windsor, made for Frederick Prince of Wales, by Nicholas Sprimont, dated 1742-3.
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
This bronze was probably cast directly from a real crab. The body was covered in clay and fired in a kiln. It was completely burnt in the process, leaving space in the clay mould for liquid bronze to be poured in and allowed to cool, providing an exact replica of the crab. It is thought to date from the nineteenth century and to be based on the design by Nicholas Sprimont for a pair of salt cellars in the Royal Collection, made for Frederick, Prince of Wales in 1742-3.
Bibliographic references
  • cf. Jones, Alfred. The Gold and Silver of Windsor Castle. 1911. p.98, pl. 50.
  • cf. Van Binnebeke, Emile. Bronze Sculpture: Sculpture from 1500-1800 in the Collection of the Boymans- van Beuningen Museum. Rotterdam. 1994. pp.58-61. cat. no. 8.
Collection
Accession number
A.2-1935

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest