Cup and Case thumbnail 1
Cup and Case thumbnail 2
+2
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 6, The Lisa and Bernard Selz Gallery

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Cup and Case

ca. 1620 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Numerous mounted nautilus shells survive today, but this is a rare example of a shell that probably survives in its original mounts, as the insects enamelled on the gold mounts match the insects engraved on the pearly underlayer of the shell. The piece is also of interest for the study of natural history, as the engraved insects are among the earliest attempts to depict moths, flies and beetles accurately. This mounted shell, which exemplifies the combination of natural beauty and skilful artistry that appealed to seventeenth-century collectors, can be traced to the aristocratic collections of the Mniszech and Potocki families of Poland.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Nautilus Cup
  • Case
Materials and techniques
Nautilus shell, gold and enamel
Brief description
Nautilus shell, with enamelled gold mounts, made in Netherlands, ca. 1620.
Physical description
Nautilus shell with enamelled gold mounts and foot. The pins which secure the mount hinges, and which secure the mounts to the shell at the centre of the phragmocone (chambered part of the shell) are later. There is a large area of repair on the outer shell wall over the area of the phragmocone.
The mounted shell has a tooled leather case which is contemporary.
Dimensions
  • Base of foot to highest point of the mounted shell height: 20.5cm
  • Across widest point of the shell width: 17cm
  • From front to back of shell at widest point (approx) depth: 7cm
  • Across underside of foot diameter: 8cm
Marks and inscriptions
Rubbed coat of arms on the case may belong to the Mniszech family their arm are: gules, seven ostrich feathers sable.
Gallery label
  • Nautilus shell 1621-40 This shell is poised between a wonder of nature and an artwork. Nautilus shells fished from the Indian Ocean were prized by European collectors as exotic treasures. This one is carved and polished to highlight its natural beauty and set in a precious mount. It is engraved with European spiders and insects, which are accurately depicted and reflect the developing scientific interest in invertebrates. Dutch Republic, now the Netherlands (possibly Amsterdam) The shell possibly engraved by Johannes Belkien, known as Jean Bellequin Nautilus Pompilius L. shell etched and engraved; enamelled gold mount Museum no. M.179-1978(2015)
  • This cup and cover together is an example of technical virtuosity combined with the interest in the phenomenon of the natural world typical of the Wunderkammer. It is possible that it is Dutch, since similar but not identical techniques and engravings on mother of pearl were executed in Amsterdam by Jean Bellekin (1597-1636) and his son, Cornelis, in the second half of the 17th century. Count Potocki suggests that it was originally owned by Frances Bernard Mniszech, who died in 1661 and then in the 18th century it came into the ownership of the Mniszech family who had the case made for the nautilus shell. [Silver Gallery Label](1992-2000)
Object history
The whole is an example of technical virtuosity combined with the interest in the phenomenon of the natural world typical of the Wunderkammer. It is possible that it is Dutch, since similar but not identical techniques and engravings on mother of pearl were executed in Amsterdam by Jean Bellekin (or Belequin, or Bellequin), (1597-1636) and his son, Cornelis, in the second half of the 17th century. Count Potocki suggests that it was originally owned by Frances Bernard Mniszech, who died in 1661. In the 18th century it came into the ownership of the Mniszech family who had the case made for the nautilus shell.
Summary
Numerous mounted nautilus shells survive today, but this is a rare example of a shell that probably survives in its original mounts, as the insects enamelled on the gold mounts match the insects engraved on the pearly underlayer of the shell. The piece is also of interest for the study of natural history, as the engraved insects are among the earliest attempts to depict moths, flies and beetles accurately. This mounted shell, which exemplifies the combination of natural beauty and skilful artistry that appealed to seventeenth-century collectors, can be traced to the aristocratic collections of the Mniszech and Potocki families of Poland.
Bibliographic references
  • Somers Cocks, Anna. Nature, the Only Teacher: A Nautilus Cup from a Noble Polish Collection. The V&A Album, 1983, vol. 2. pp. 160-64.
  • Mette, Hans-Ulrich. Der Nautiluspokal: Wie Kunst und Natur miteinander spielen. Munich and Berlin: Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1995. ISBN 3781403289
  • Möller, Karin Annette. Schimmern aus der Tiefe. Muscheln, Perlen, Nautilus. Catalogue of the exhibition at the Staatliches Museum Schwerin, 14 June - 15 September 2013. Schwerin: Michael Imhof Verlag, 2013. ISBN 9783865689115
  • Kjellberg, Pierre. Objets montés du Moyen Âge à nos jours. Paris: Amateur, 2000. ISBN 2859173056
  • van Seters, W. H. 'Oud-Nederlandse parelmoerkunst: het werk van leden der familie Belquin, parelmoergraveurs en schilders in de 17de eeuw.' Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek, vol. 9, 1958. pp. 173-237.
  • Mauriès, Patrick. Cabinets of Curiosities. London: Thames and Hudson, 2002. ISBN 0500510911
  • Pijzel-Dommisse, Jet. Catalogue entry. In: Asia in Amsterdam. The culture of luxury in the Golden Age. ed. by Karina H. Corrigan, Jan van Campen, and Femke Diercks, with Janet C. Blyberg. Catalogue of the exhibition 'Asia in Amsterdam: The Culture of Luxury in the Golden Age' at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 17 October 2015 - 17 January 2016 and Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, 27 February - 5 June 2016. Salem, MA: Peabody Essex Museum; Amsterdam: in conjunction with the Rijksmuseum, 2015. ISBN: 9789491714559
Collection
Accession number
M.179:1, 2-1978

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Record createdFebruary 23, 2004
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