Shell Shadow Boxes

"Two antique 19th century carved Cameo shells featuring sillhouettes of a man and woman. The woman is adorned with grapes and leaves, while the soldier holds a spear and wears a figural galea helmet with wings and serpent mohawk. The most popular cameos today are carved in sea shells, a tradition that began in the fifteenth or sixteenth century and was popularized by Queen Victoria of England. Since that time, cameos have predominately showcased women’s profiles, and been worn by women who enjoy the beauty and craftsmanship of hand-carved cameos. Yet cameos have not always been decorative jewelry for women. In fact, at different points in history they have been worn as frequently by men. While the birthplace of the cameo was nearly 300 years before the birth of Christ in Alexandria, Egypt, cameos owe their origins to ancient carving traditions. As far back as 15,000 BC, petroglyphs — figures carved into rock — were used to record significant events and communicate information. In ancient times people used cameos...

This a mother of pearl sticks and hand painted fan depicting a royal scene in a palace. There are some gilded overlay pierced foliage in the sticks and, in the center is highlighted ...

This is a hand painted ladies fan with an 18th century scene of a courting couple in a pastoral landscape. Also the reticulated mother of pearls sticks depi...

Sailor's shellwork valentine with an arrangement of shells of various shapes and colors centering with a heart and a rosette. Framed in a round deep gilded regency style bullseye sha...

French Caribbean sea shell-work picture, circa 1820-1840. The superb early 19th-century rectangular picture with a central reserve depicting naval objects including flags, drums,...

French paper fan nicely lithographed with "fêtes galantes" or scenes of aristocratic romance, with additional hand painting. The sticks are mother-of-pearl with pierced and inlaid me...

This tourist diorama depicting the port of Canton, China was made from paper, shells, wooden frame, and glass from the early 19th century.

This is a beautiful decorative French mother-of-pearl lace fan set in a gilded frame dating from the late 19th century. The fan is made from lace and is be...

Inspired set of three decorative groups of sea shell specimens, carefully curated and presented in a shadow box format. One of three sets offered.

Inspired set of three decorative groups of seashell specimens, carefully curated and presented in a shadow box format. One of three sets offered.  

Antique mid-19th century hand-painted French fan with pierced mother of pearl spokes. Beautifully presented in a custom gilt wood frame.

Pair of three dimensional Still Life Dioramas. Beautiful and scarce, depicting floral motifs made of shells, in gilded wooden vases, The effect recalls the concept of mimesis, the...