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18th Century Italian Altar Stick with a Chesapecten Fossil Shell and Pearls

About the Item

18th century Italian gold leaf altar stick with a Chesapecten plated fossil scallop shell and natural forming Baroque pearls. The Chesapecten plated fossil scallop shell is hand-pulled from the banks of the James River. It is said to be about 3 to 8 million-years-old. These shells hold fossils of marine life that lived in those banks at the time including oysters and whale bones. After these shells are found, they go through a process to be cleaned by air, water, and soap. They are then sealed to protect the shells from the sun. They hold an incredible shape that allows the shell, fossils, and sandy/rocky matrix to hold and naturally form with one another. This sits on an 18th century gold leaf altar stick that originally came from a church in Tuscany. Together, the chesapecten fossil scallop shell, Baroque pearls, and altar stick are put together in a sculptural form - creating a piece that appears to have evolved together over time. Interpreting the past to create a piece entirely original, evolving in its own right.
  • Creator:
    Interi (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 45.5 in (115.57 cm)Width: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
  • Style:
    Rococo (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 18th Century
  • Condition:
    Additions or alterations made to the original: Interi transforms Italian artifacts using artistic methods and contemporary interpretations. The 18th-century Italian altar stick has been joined together with the Chesapecten fossil scallop shell and baroque pearls to create a new sculptural piece. Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Dublin, IE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5127120507102
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