Shell Mounted Objects

Pieza decorativa de inspiración costera formada por un elegante cuenco natural de concha de vieira gigante, montado sobre una base torneada de mármol blanco pulido, que sostiene un e...

18th century Italian sunray with baroque pearls mounted on an aragonite crystal base. The 18th century gold leaf sunray originally part of a halo or sunburst motif in an artistic depiction in a historic church. It is mounted onto the white aragonite...

18th-century distressed Italian mecca arrow with a baroque pearl on a polished calcite base. The arrow was once part of a decorative motif in an artistic depiction in historic Itali...

Sculpture with Seashell Assemblage and antique wood Base

18th century Italian candlestick top with polished agate coral and a baroque pearl. The 18th century candlestick top originally came from a candlestick from a church in Tuscany. T...

Sculptural 18th century Italian mecca miniature fragment with fossil agate coral. The fragment was originally part of an 18th century Italian candlestick from a historic church. I...

A pair of 18th century Italian silver leaf candlestick tops with polished agate coral and baroque pearls. The hand-carved, silver lea...

18th century Italian gold leaf candlestick top with polished fossil agate coral and natural forming Baroque pearls. The 18th century fragment comes from Tuscany and has the original candlestick wax...

An elegant decorative composition featuring a selection of natural seashells arranged on a fluted, silver-plated metal base. The variety of shapes, textures, and tones—from pearly wh...

18th century Italian hand-carved gold leaf angel wing on a crystal quartz cluster with Baroque pearls. The hand-carved gold leaf angel wing is originally from a historic church in Liguria. This piece is particularly rare and exquisite due to its unique shape and size. It is gold leaf and has a bole underlay. The ecclesiastical artifact is mounted on a bed of quartz crystals. The Baroque pearls, tangerine quartz...

A vibrant, handwoven beaded belt—traditionally known as a cache-sex—crafted from multicolored glass beads arranged in a dynamic diamond motif of red, green, blue, orange, and white. ...

This mid-century modern shell-encrusted sculpture is a striking example of artistic creativity combined with natural beauty. The piece features a spherical form entirely covered with...

A decorative arrangement of natural seashells presented in an elegant silver-plated metal cup with delicate ornamental engraving. The set brings together various shells of diverse sh...

A delicate coastal-style composition crafted from a large natural scallop shell, which serves as a container for a carefully curated selection of conch shells, tropical shells, white...

An original decorative centerpiece composed of a selection of natural seashells arranged inside a silver-plated metal cup with an elegant, classic silhouette. The variety of shells, ...

Elevate your interior decor with this one-of-a-kind, museum-quality sculptural assemblage hand-crafted by artist Joseph Malekan. Seamlessly blending organic ocean elements with earth...

A unique decorative composition featuring a large natural shell arranged like a cup on a carved marble base. The piece houses a carefully curated selection of minerals and crystallin...

18th century Italian gilded bouquet fragment mounted on a golden, polished hematoid slab and adorned with baroque pearls. The piece is put together by Jean O'Reilly Barlow, the art...

Sculptural 18th century Italian crucifix mounted on jasper with crystal points. The crystal points create more sunrays around the halo of the crucifix. The reddish tips of the crysta...

Pair of 18th century Italian fragments with a gold flower relief decorated with natural forming baroque pearls to emulate the flower on a matrix of barite and double terminated calci...

Assambled Sculpture of Antique Ostrich Egg with Silver Base

A unique decorative centerpiece composed of a carefully curated selection of natural seashells arranged in a circle on a classic-inspired wooden vase with a dark finish. A larger, co...

Sculptural 18th century Italian ribbon fragment with natural-forming baroque pearls on a selenite slab. The Italian ribbon fragment original came from a...

Elevate your interior decor with this one-of-a-kind, museum-quality sculptural assemblage hand-crafted by artist Joseph Malekan. Seamlessly blending organic ocean elements with earth...

Sculpture with Seashell Assemblage and Antique brass Base

Elegant marine decorative arrangement composed of a carefully selected selection of shells, conches, and coral fragments, arranged in an antique blown glass goblet with a crackled me...

A truly one-of-a-kind sculptural masterpiece by the esteemed American artist Joseph Malekan, renowned for his ability to harmoniously blend natural elements into luxurious, Organic M...

Original 1950s South African scrimshaw ostrich egg by late chief Sipho Ndlvu.

A unique decorative piece that combines marine and mineral elements in an attractive, sculptural composition. An open natural seashell serves as a container for a selection of minera...

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...

Black shell necklace accessory on metal stand. One of a kind sourced from Belgium. 2 available.

Handcrafted in Cameroon, this decorative African shield combines white beadwork with natural cowrie shells. Concentric beading surrounds a raised shell centerpiece, while a shell-tri...

A large and impressive steel sculpture by world renowned artist Guy Dill. It consists of black welded steel circa 1990's. Welded signature.

The top of an original antique rice pounder taken from my private collection. We added hand cut mother of pearl shell into the center of this beautiful rare teak wood. Great as an ar...

A decorative wedding necklace from Ethiopia, circa 1980. Stitched in leather with bead and money cowry shells, plus metal trimmings. Mounted on a bespoke black metal stand.

A pair of ruler selenite on lucite bases. Ruler selenite or "selenite logs" are single, prismatic selenite crystals from Morocco that were formed in extensive beds by the evaporation of ocean brine. This mineral is a crystallized form of gypsum and is characterized by a silky, pearly luster called satin spare. Interi transforms Italian artifacts...

Driftwood sculpture selected by John Dickinson for the Historic Firehouse, San Francisco. Placed in John's bedroom on the same cases shown, (also available) Custom brass display mount...

Pair of 17th century Italian candlesticks with polished agate coral tops and baroque pearls. The alter candlesticks originally came from a church in Florence. They are mounted with ...

17th Century Italian candlestick fragment topped with a complete and natural ammonite shell. This Italian fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the histo...

Post modern 1980s Lucite and shell mirrored obelisk table sculpture.     

18th century Italian gold leaf altar stick with a Chesapecten plated fossil scallop shell and natural forming Baroque pearls. The Chesapecten plate...

18th-century Italian mecca arrow with a baroque pearl on a polished calcite base. The arrow was once used as part of a decorative motif in artistic depictions (most likely of Saint ...

A beautiful collection of five shells engraved from the Holy Land depicts a religion scenes, three of them depicts the last supper in Jerusalem, the other two depicts scenes from the...

Handcrafted in Cameroon, this decorative African shield pairs dense black beadwork with natural cowrie shells. A circular shell centerpiece and a shell-trimmed border create a textur...

An early twentieth century shell spoon, comprised of two shells and supported on a metal stand. The handle is delicately carved from a singular shell, with...

This piece is an excellent example of an adornment used by Abelam warriors to frighten their enemies. They are held in a warrior’s mouth for courage and to intimidate their adversary...

Sculptural 18th century Italian cross mounted on smoky quartz crystals in matrix with pyrite formations. The center of the cross has an abstract figure of Christ created from acrylic crystals. The missing sunrays are replaced with the smoky quartz crystal points...

18th century Italian fragment topped with natural forming clusters of fossil shells and barnacles. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the histori...

Pair of 18th century Italian scroll candlesticks adorned with natural forming copper and natural forming baroque pearls mounted on copper in matrix. These candlesticks were once us...

18th century Italian "Florence Fragment" candlestick base mounted and adorned with quartz crystals and topped with an ammonite. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic Florence Flood of 1966. It is part of the The Florence Fragment Collection which is exhibiting with Museo de’ Medici in Florence, Italy this fall. This is a collection of historical fragment...

18th century Italian "Florence Fragment" candlestick base with fossil coral and coordinating shells on a rock coral base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found an...

18th Century Italian candlestick fragment with unpolished crystals and rare marine fossil (Siliquaria Cumingii) collected from the coast of Minabe from the Honshu island in Japan. Th...

Sculptural 18th century Italian candlestick top fragment with polished agate coral and a coordinating silver-leaf shell. The hand-carved, 18th century silver candlestick top origin...

Sculptural 18th century Italian candlestick mounted on chalcopyrite and adorned with baroque pearls. This fragment was originally part of a candlestick from a historical church in I...

18th century Italian gold leaf altar stick with a Chesapecten plated fossil scallop shell and natural forming Baroque pearls. The Chesapecten plate...

18th century Italian mecca processional cross on a calcite crystal base in matrix with coordinating baroque pearls. The calcite crystal cluster in matrix is from Elmwood Mine in T...

18th-century distressed Italian mecca gilt arrow with a baroque pearl on a polished calcite base. The arrow was once part of a decorative motif in an artistic depiction in historic ...

The highly decorative bib beaded necklaces are treated as works of art displayed on their black metal stands as sculptural works of art. Near the necks are bent poles wrapped with tw...

Splendid Florida Venice Mermaid with conch shell mounted installation on a hot pink hat. Oc with sea shells trim trim border.

Art Decò Italian Signed Hand-Painted Wunderkammer Item Fully enamelled and hand-painted shell Features the F.D. monogram A magnificent objet d’art produced in Italy in the purest Ar...