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1950s Framed Shadow Box Specimen Collection

$4,800
£3,585.37
€4,156.66
CA$6,664.68
A$7,470.25
CHF 3,889.54
MX$91,214.93
NOK 49,383.01
SEK 46,810.66
DKK 31,013.22
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About the Item

In a wooden case that opens flat, its original box intact and both sides flush, this hinged naturalist’s display houses 156 catalogued marine specimens, each numbered and precisely placed in a shadowbox display. Beyond the array of delicate gastropods and bivalves, you'll find starfish, a sand dollar, sea urchins, a preserved seahorse, coral, and even a small horseshoe crab. The shells and sea life are arranged on a golden, sand-textured ground, giving the entire display a warm, sunlit glow. Each side includes a typewritten legend, mapping every piece by name and number. Thoughtfully assembled and lovingly preserved, the case reflects the obsessive eye and steady hand of a mid-20th century collector part scientific record, part seaside poetry.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 18.875 in (47.95 cm)Width: 25.125 in (63.82 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1950
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 34311stDibs: LU824845110232

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