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.
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Collection | |
Accession number | M.179:1, 2-1978 |
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Record created | February 23, 2004 |
Record URL |
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