Shell Mounted Objects

Ruler Selenite with an 18th century Italian gold leaf fragment. Mica, and natural forming baroque pearls on a lucite base. 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 characterized by a silky, pearly luster called satin spar. The piece is put together by Jean O'Reilly Barlow, the artist and creative director of Interi. The date of manufacture reflects when she created the piece but the Italian fragment is originally 18th century. Interi transforms Italian artifacts...

This petite cone-shaped cap, known as laket, was created by an artisan of the Kuba peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The base is made of a simple woven raffia fabric, ...

17th century Italian vase with a chesapecten shell & gold-plated crystal points. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic flooding of t...

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

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

Elegant Atlantic trumpet sea shell professionally mounted on a black color marble base. Artistically hand embedded by the artist with crystal quartz pieces that make beautiful art ob...

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...

Sculptural 18th century Italian mecca vase mounted with mica and tourmaline and adorned natural-forming baroque pearls. The mica and baroque pearls perfe...

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...

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...

A pair of 18th century Italian gold leaf church altar vases decorated with fossil shells, siliquaria, and natural forming baroque pearls. The vases originally came from a church in A...

Ruler Selenite with an 18th century Italian gold leaf fragment and natural forming baroque pearls on a lucite base. 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 characterized by a silky, pearly luster called satin spar. The piece is put together by Jean O'Reilly Barlow, the artist and creative director of Interi. The date of manufacture reflects when she created the piece and the period shows that the Italian fragment is originally 18th century. Interi transforms Italian artifacts...

Beautiful Atlantic trumpet seashell professionally mounted on genuine sea coral base, artistically embedded with exceptional crystal quartz stone, and citrine crystal quartz stone to...

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 ...

17th century Italian candlestick base decorated with a selenite blade cluster, fossil shells. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the notorious fl...

Two turn-of-the-century Italian ivory-colored coral specimens, mounted on traditional black urn-shaped decorative bases. Sculptural and organic, the pair is a celebration of nature's...

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...

Ruler Selenite with natural forming baroque pearls on a lucite base. 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 characterized by a silky, pearly luster called satin spare. It is then adorned with the baroque pearls which coordinate beautifully with the sleek selenite. Interi transforms Italian artifacts...

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

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...

Amethyst slice with a baroque natural forming pearl on a polished wood base. This amethyst is rare in how large it is, its beautiful shape, and its l...

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

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

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

19th century Italian pediment fragment decorated with pectin shells and red phantom crystal points on a lucite base. The piece is put together by ...

Beautiful Atlantic spider seashell professionally mounted on a thousand years old petrified wood base, artistically hand embedded With turquoise s...

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 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...

Amethyst slice with calcite deposits and a Baroque natural forming pearl on a polished wood base. This amethyst is rare in how large it is and how it...

18th century Italian candlestick decorated with free-forming glass and baroque pearls on an Italian glass bobeche base. The 18th century candlestick is from Tuscany. It is hand carved and hand painted with brownish-red metallic paint. It is placed on an Italian bobeche base. Hand-molded freeform glass...

18th century silver scroll Italian fragment decorated silver leaf shells and mica on a mica mineral base in matrix. The hand-carved and hand-painted 18th ...

18th century Italian candlestick top decorated with sunset cactus quartz and a baroque pearl. The gold leaf candlestick top originally came from an 18th century Italian candlestic...

Beautiful Atlantic seashell professionally mounted on a genuine sea Corolla base, artistically embedded with fantastic turquoise stone all around, to make exceptional object of art f...

Fantastic Atlantic trumpet sea shell professionally mounted on a natural coral base ,artistically hand embedded with amethyst quartz crystal pieces ,Thant make a beautiful art object...

18th century Italian tassel on a polished calcite cube with coordinating natural-forming baroque pearls. This tassel originally came from a church in Italy. Many tassels were used to decorate churches on religious feast days. Others were commonly used to decorate 18-19th century French and Italian...

Beautiful trumpet seashell professionally mounted on genuine coral base, artistically hand embedded with fantastic turquoise stones all around, to make exceptional object of art for ...

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...

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...

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...

Great pair of modern decorative shell obelisks.