Doe and Hope

Description

Rod mounted on an ebonised circular plinth stand the Tiger Nautilus coiled, aragonitic and nacreous shell having a logarithmic spiral with a fine colour.

In very fine order, there are no flaws to report other than very light general wear commensurate with age to both the stand and shell.

Nautilus shells were popular items in the Renaissance cabinet of curiosities and were often mounted by goldsmiths on a thin stem to make extravagant nautilus shell cups, like the Burghley Nef, mainly intended as decorations rather than for use, just as we see here. Small natural history collections were common in mid-19th century Victorian homes, and chambered nautilus shells were popular decorations.

This example is no different, and no cabinet of curiosities would be complete without a good smattering of marine inspired interest.