Shell Decorative Objects

Fanciful pair of Mid-Century ostrich bird sculptures constructed with ostrich eggs and silvered metal. Wearing a quizzical expression that seems to be ask...

Sizeable rectangular, wooden coffer with its key. The blackened wood is inlaid with mother-of-pearl and brass. The lid and the main face of the box are r...

19th century French writing box with inkwell. Boulle and Mother of Pearl.

Mother of pearl and Ormolu watch holder and inkwell. The center of the piece is decorated with an angel who is standing on a pedestal that rests in a semi...

A finely carved natural Aber Specimen group of nesting snakes, featuring a large, very clear amber specimen from Chiapas, Mexico, a carving representing two snakes intertwined around a tree trunk rests within a section of natural moose antler which cleverly represents the base of the tree. A mother-of-pearl carved egg form tops the display. On a jet base with an amber piece giving the impression of an imbedded sphere. Offered with a custom-fitted Balinese fabric...

This circa 1880 ink well is very large and beautifully decorated. Footed papier mâché base with black lacquer finish, elaborate hand painted gilt details moth...

Los Castillo abalone shell and brass fish platter with gorgeous brass patina

A beautiful wood box with a small compartment inside and a shell lid in the manner of Alexandre Noll.

Elegant pair of birds in white ivory stone with beige fossil stone mounted on a square base. The beaks as well as the bases are in mother-of-pearl. Makers mark underneath, Marquis Co...

Tall elegant tube shell sculpture designed and executed by F. S. Henemader with a dramatic form and striking bleached white color. Presented on a Lucite base to enhance the sculptura...

English Victorian cormandel tea caddy decorated with mother of pearl and brass studs, circa 1850s. Cormandel was considered one of the most luxurious woods and only used on the fines...

Made of palissander, this lovely Napoleon III period liqueur box is lacquered in black, a method which became popular during Napoleon III's reign. The rose...

18th century Italian (Region of Liguria) wood candlestick decorated with a calcite crystal in matrix, a specimen from the Elmwood Mine, and gold leaf shells. This mine produces some ...

American shellwork standing mirror in the form of a Harp, circa 1885 The unusual 19th century American shellwork standing mirror is in the form of a harp....

Outrageous larger than life piece of Folk Art painstakingly composed of found objects such as sea shells, beads, toys, vintage jewelry buttons, and bottle caps (to name a few). There...

Shell and silvered brass duck-shaped trinket bowl. Italian work by the Maison Binazzi, circa 1970.

A delightful French basket mounted in doré bronze which provides the framework for the six panels veneered in mother-of-pearl and set with French porcelain plaques...

A stunning Japanese Edo period lacquer tanzakubako, box for poem cards, late 18th-early 19th century, Edo Period, Japan. Attributed to the Igarashi School, this box is masterfully ...

Elegant Atlantic trumpet sea shell professionally mounted on a natural coral base, artistically hand embedded with citrine crystal quartz pieces that make a beautiful object of art f...

Gilt bronze and mother-of-pearl shell shaped box, Palais Royale, circa 1810.

Small Art Deco period eggshell and black lacquer vase. Abstract modern exterior with eggshell ground, black lacquer circle and arc, interior and bas...

Enrique Garcel tesselated bone shell lacquer brown brass candleholders, 1970 1980. Four candleholders that each have a different type of organic mater...

Large, hand decorated ostrich egg container featuring a gilded interior. The whole mounted on a sterling silver pedestal with a multifaceted, amethyst cr...

Vase or jar, very decorative anywhere in the house.

This mixed media mid century modern Mexican bowl of polished silver plate, brass and abalone is hallmarked on the bottom "Metales Hecho En Mexico Hand-wrought. It is in the shape of ...

This antique teak wood bowl was originally used to pound rice. We added the shell inlay. This bowl was sourced in the spirit of wabi-sabi, a Japanese philosophy that beauty can be f...

Powder compact in silvered bronze with incised mother-of-pearl top. Signed.

Portico style French tulipwood clock with Boulle style fine inlays of mother-of-pearl and bronze. Eight day French movement with a grid-iron ormolu pendulum...

Three mid 20th century Anglo Indian boxes with strap design. Made of bone and shell. Please note that the smallest box is missing some fretwork on top of the box. Largest measures...

Papier mâché circa 1870 English inlaid lacquered sewing box/jewelry box, with many Velvet and mother-of-pearl compartments, hidden area in center. Hand-carved mother-of-pearl, inlaid...

Pair of French mid-century (1940s) brass palm design and ostrich egg 3 arm candelabras on square bases. (Priced as Pair).  

18th century Italian hand-carved silver leaf angel with silver leaf shells, mica wings, and mounted on a mica cluster. The hand-carved angel was once part of a heavenly, angelic depi...

Vintage ornate Brass inlaid with mother of Pearl Powder Jar, Jewelry Box, Dresser Box, Pill Box, Vanity Box decorated with seashell. Vintage round decorative trinket box with lid or ...

Embodying luxury, artistry and utility, this exquisite mother of pearl bowl is made with meticulous care to detail. Handmade with precision and masterful skill, each mosaic piece car...

Recognized for his technically superior and beautiful metal patinations for tableware, Munich born Ludwig Vierthaler’s designs and metalwork caught the attention of Tiffany & Co., NY...

Refined and sensual small accessories for the desk or vanity have been loved and enjoyed by collectors or aesthetes for many centuries. Examples of beautiful, delicate workmanship ca...

A beautiful contemporary Tibetan round beaded box incorporating thousands of turquoise glass beads and a circle of shells on the lid handstitched onto a black...

Maitland Smith One-Of-A-Kind Box with Salmon Stone and Black Cabachon Fitted with Brass Feet and Clasp Rosewood inlays, with tesselated stone detailing

A spectacular mother of pearl bowl, completely hand made by the Indonesian craftsmen. Bowl is meticulously encrusted with mother of pearl and poli...

A pair of Large Articulated Silver and Abalone Shell Fish Sculpture/ Bottle Opener by Los Castillo, from Mexico wonderful addition to any bar or midcentury bar, and stands alone on t...

This wonderful object is reminiscent of the cabinets of curiosities in castles and palaces in the Renaissance period. People wanted to own and exhibit rarities. This highly decorati...

exquisite middle Eastern Moorish Syrian inlay jewelry box. This box is intricately inlaid with Moorish motif designs which have been uniquely inlaid with bone, and fruitwood, four br...

Exquisite unique sculpture of a stylized bull composed of sea shells with etched brass elements and an ebonized base by Roberto Estevez, American 1980's (signed “ESTEVEZ” on plaque o...

A large pair of shell encrusted pedestal candle holders. Made of resin, grout, and shells. handcrafted circa 1970s-1980s.

Whimsical elephant sculpture with ostrich egg body and brass head, legs and tail attributed to Anthony Redmile.

A pair of beautiful hand crafted Whimsy Nautilus topped seashell sculptures. Created by a local Tampa artist we carry exclusive in our shop. The base is 5" square.

Elegant Anlo-Portuguese rosewood inlaid domed hinged box. The rich warm wood with floral inlays of mother of pearl and silver wire. 9.5 inch...

Mellerio Paris, A French Gold, Diamonds, Silver-Gilt, Rock-Crystal, Jade, Mother-Of-Pearl and Smoky Quartz, Carved Horse Sculpture, Jeweled Mounted Object. An extremely rare and unique, one of a kind French gold, diamonds, Silver-gilt, rock-crystal, jade, obsidian, mother-of-pearl, and smoky quartz carved jeweled sculpture "CHEVAUX DE LEGENDE", "A Legendary Horse" by Mellerio, Paris, circa 1991. Sitting on black obsidian base, the solid rock-crystal slab is finely applied with a carved smoky -quartz and jade horse with a harness mounted in 18k gold, brilliant -cut diamonds, rubies, turquoise, and amethyst chains and pendants. The top columns adorned with 18k gold and brilliant cut diamond pendants, the bottom with gold and mother of pearl plaques. The obsidian base with a plaque engraved: CHEVAUX DE LEGENDE" / N° 05 / MELLERIO DITS MELLER / PARIS / 5003 D The piece is in excellent condition and comes with a custom made wood case made for transport. It's very elegant and has French hallmarks throughout. A truly magnificent piece. Measures 10.5" high x 8.5" wide x 4" deep Founded in France in 1613 by the descendants of Italian immigrants from the Vigezzo Valley in the north of Italy, Mellerio is one of the oldest jewellery houses in Europe. The family business soon attracted the attention of the Royal Court and Marie Antoinette herself reportedly purchased a precious bracelet featuring 7 cameos surrounded by rubies in 1780. Later on, in the 19th century, Mellerio became the official supplier of the French Royal family and the Court of Netherland. Mellerio creates many jewellery items, all set with rare gems such as peridots, amethysts, aquamarines, citrines and topaz, applying for a patent, the flexible stem, a very supple and light jewellery mechanism. Mellerio remains also well known for their spectacular series of Art Nouveau jewels, created at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as for the creation of trophies rewarding some of the greatest footfall and tennis players of history. In 1993, the jewellery house launched their first watch collection. Today, Mellerio has stores in Paris, Japan and Hong Kong. July 14, 1789: this date is known throughout the world as the beginning of the French Revolution. According to a ledger belonging to House of Mellerio, this was also the day that the jeweler sold a golden key to the Comte de Coutance for 10 livres. This ledger, as well as inventories dating as far back as 1768, are the jeweler’s oldest archives. These archives have continued to grow over the years, as the House, established on rue de la Paix in Paris, still lives on today, still in the hands of the same family from Craveggia, in the North of Italy. The tumultuous history of the Mellerio family in France probably goes as far back as the Italian wars of the Renaissance, but the first official document proving their commercial activity in Paris dates back to 1613. This document is the famous royal warrant awarded by Marie de Medici to a number of Italian families established along the rue des Lombards, including the Mellerios, allowing them to sell “small jewelery items”, therefore granting them a small exception to the traditional monopoly enjoyed by Parisian jewelers. At that time, powerful corporations regulated the operations and customs of Parisian business, but thanks to this exceptional warrant, the Mellerios managed to escape the confines of this framework. Today, this wax-sealed document is kept at the city hall of Craveggia. From 1613 to the Revolution, the Mellerios lived between France and Italy. The corporations tried many times to put an end to their trade privileges, but all in vain, as a dynasty of sovereigns renewed the warrant. Always marrying and often retiring in Craveggia, the Mellerios continued to maintain their jewelry business in Paris. At first, they did this without a shop. Wearing backpacks (wooden boxes divided into small compartments where jewels were kept), they would tour town fairs around Paris and royal castles. This is how Jean-Baptiste Mellerio (1765-1850) is said to have sold a bracelet set with rubies and Antique cameos to Marie-Antoinette, which still exists today. Many elements seem to prove the veracity of this anecdote. The queen was particularly fond of cameos, which cover the entire background of her famous jewelry cabinet, and ruby was her favorite stone after diamond. The famous bracelet, reacquired a few years ago by the House of Mellerio, is indeed an 18th century jewel, set with antique cameos representing the profiles of Roman emperors. Two branches of the family were operating in Paris during this time, under the reign of Louis XVI: that of Jean-François (1746-1828), the paternal ancestor of the current Mellerios, and that of Jean-Baptiste (1765-1850). The French Revolution forced them to return to Italy. However, both Jean-Baptiste and François Mellerio (1772-1843), who was the son of Jean-François, were eventually able to return to Paris after the founding of the Consulate. Jean-Baptiste opened a shop at the Iron Crown of rue Vivienne, and François opened his at the Palais des Tuileries, rue du Coq Saint-Honoré. His well-organized order books give an idea of his high-ranking clientele during the “Old Regime”, among which were the Comte and Comtesse Octave de Segur, the Marquise (later Duchess) de Tourzel, former governess of the royal children, and her daughter, the Comtesse de Bearn, the Craufurds -who organized the flight to Varennes, the Duc and Duchess de Gramont, the Comtesse de Boigne, and Madame de Souza, Talleyrand’s mistress. We also see the names of the imperial family: Empress Josephine, the Queen of Holland, Princess Elisa, Caroline and Pauline. At that time, the House of Mellerio specialized, among other things, in the trade of antique cameos, a newly fashionable genre of jewel that captured the imagination of all the princesses and noble women of the time. The years of the Restauration and July Monarchy were among the most glorious. The Bourbons were back on the throne, and the clientele of the House of Mellerio had regained its former wealth. Mellerio supplied Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, as well as his mother, wife and sister, with sumptuous jewels, including a set of emeralds made piece by piece, while the Duke of Bourbon, last prince of the House of Condé, offered diamonds to his mistress, the scheming Baronne de Feucheres, and Monsieur de LaFayette also bought cameos for one of his granddaughters. For the first time, Mellerio ventured into the world of arts in 1815, when Carlotta Grisi, a famous dancer who created Giselle, as well as an actress named Rachel, bought jewels at the Mellerio store on rue de la Paix. 1848 marked a new turning point. France once again became a Republic. François Mellerio handed the company over to his son, Jean, and the latter decided to travel to Spain to build a new clientele. He later became one of the jewelers of the royal family, and met Eugénie de Montijo, who remained a faithful client when she became empress of the French people. The Imperial years were lavish. During the Second Empire, Paris was a pageant of crinoline dresses designed by Worth, while jewels by Mellerio, Worth’s neighbour on the rue de la Paix, adorned the noble women of the Tuileries court. The Empress bought pearls. Mathilde Bonaparte...

A mid-19th century Victorian Period black japanned sewing box, of architectural form, decorated throughout with mother of pearl floral veneers and ...

A classic pattern by one of England's re known factories, Royal Crown Derby. This is their "Old Imari" pattern featuring cobalt blue, red and lavishly gilded...

Chinese mother of pearl inlaid lacquered rectangular box, depicting in landscape, circa late 19th-early 20th century. Measures: 3.5" H x 9.75" ...

Highly decorative pair of French early 19th Century (circa 1810 - 1815) jewellery caskets with mother of pearl and gilded mounts coupled with agate embellishments and depictions of h...

Lovely and unique hinged jewelry box. Graceful bowed shape. On four legs with paw feet. On top is an applied clover or trefoil, inlaid with mother-of-pearl . Very solid gauge silver....

English paper mache and mother of pearl jewelry box depicting a charming scene with three generations of women enjoying their time together...

Chinese mother of pearl inlaid lacquered long rectangular box, the cover depicting two figures or immortals with all-over landscape decoration,...

Great pair of modern decorative shell obelisks.

A group of four silver, sea shell and coral Animal sculptures 1950s. Dimensions: Frog – H 5” x W 2.5” x D 5” x base height 2” Bird – H 6” x W 5” x D 3.5” x base height 2” Dog – H 4” x W 2.33” x D 3.5” x base height 0.75” Turtle – H 2.75” x W 3.75” x D: 4.75” x base height 0.75” Aurelio Teno Teno a/k/a Aurelio Teno (Spanish, 1927 - 2013) was a Spanish sculptor and painter. He stood out for his interpretations of Don Quixote, as the one who imagines him - mounted on the horse named Clavileño - as the first cosmonaut in history. Between 1936 and 1943, he lived in Córdoba where he trained artistically. First, as an apprentice in the workshop of the sculptor Amadeo Ruiz Olmos; later in a silverware workshop; and since 1939, in the School of Arts and Crafts of Cordoba, where he studied painting and drawing. In 1950, he moved to Madrid to work as a goldsmith; and later to Paris, where he lived for ten years. There, he extended his studies of fine arts, and is strongly influenced by Giacometti and expressionism in whole. This period in Teno’s artistic life is celebrated by several exhibitions of his paintings in the Salón del Art Libre, Palais des Beaux Arts galleries and others. At the same time, he continued to dedicate a lot of time to the creation of his famous sculptures-jewels. In 1965, he returned to Madrid although he installed his studio in the Molino del Cubo (Ávila), where he researched new plastic procedures and also exhibits his controversial polemical paintings at the Ateneo de Madrid. Begining that year, he starts a series of international exhibitions in Copenhagen, Paris, New York, Rabat and San Luis (Missouri, USA). In 1976 he consolidated his international prestige as a monumental sculptor by winning the contest for Don Quixote sculpture...