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A fascinating and unusual collector's item, in which a precious Nautilus shell is transformed into a small vessel mounted in silver and surmounted by an elaborate cross adorned with colored stones.

The shell's naturally mother-of-pearl surface, characterized by delicate ivory, pink, and pearly tones, contrasts with the rich silver setting, worked in relief with elegant scrollwork, foliage, and ornamentation motifs in late 19th-century style.

The Nautilus has held a special place in the history of European collecting for centuries. Its exotic shape, perfect natural spiral, and iridescent surface made it one of the most sought-after naturalia in ancient cabinets of curiosities, where it was often paired with precious settings crafted by goldsmiths. The result was an object that straddles the boundary between the wonder of nature and the invention of man. Numerous examples now preserved in major European museums bear witness to this very tradition.

This specimen, however, presents a particularly curious characteristic: the shell was conceived as a small devotional vessel, topped with a cross. The cross, crafted from silver and decorated with red and green stones, is the object's main symbolic element.

Its original function is undocumented. The vessel's shape and the presence of the cross may suggest a possible devotional or liturgical use, perhaps linked to the storage or administration of holy water; however, in the absence of documentation or specific marks attesting to its use, it is best not to attribute a specific ritual function with certainty.

It is precisely this ambiguity that makes the object particularly interesting: it is not simply a shell cup, but a small composition in which naturalism, goldsmith art, collecting, and devotion coexist in a single object.
The base and mount are richly decorated with ornamental relief motifs, while the small intermediate element between the cup and the foot is made of organic material in a pinkish hue, creating a further contrast with the silver.

A small but highly curious object, perfect for a collection of Wunderkammern, natural curiosities, devotional objects, and 19th-century decorative arts.

Origin: Italy

Period: Late 19th century

Materials: Nautilus shell, silver, colored stones, and organic material

Height: 18 cm (7.1")

Width: 8.5 cm (3.3")

Base diameter: 7 cm (2.7")