Items Similar to Antique Italian Pink Coral and Sterling Silver Letter Opener
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 7
Antique Italian Pink Coral and Sterling Silver Letter Opener
About the Item
This silver and antique coral letter opener was handmade by our talented goldsmiths, who used a coral branch from Sciacca, the Sicilian town famous for its corals.
The Sciacca Coral has unique origins in the world: it is closely tied to the exceptional history of the Ferdinandea Island, which is a submerged volcanic island in the Strait of Sicily, between Pantelleria and Sciacca.
As of today the summit of the Ferdinandea Island remains between about 6 and 8 meters below the Mediterranean Sea level. Its most recent appearance as an island was in July 1831.
In the late 1831, in a shoal (called later ”Bummolo” by the fishermen of Sciacca) located around 30 miles from Sciacca, a new island emerged in a fiery hell from the depths of the Strait of Sicily.
However, one year later, the island sank back beneath the waters and definitely disappeared in the Strait of Sicily.
Over time, thanks to the exceptional microclimate determined by the frequent volcanic phenomena along the slopes of the submerged volcano, huge coral reefs have developed in the shoal.
These huge coral reefs were torn up because of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and then settled to the bottom of the sea, becoming three huge coral fields.
Over the centuries the structure of the coral fields has been modified by the volcano’s activity, and the Red Coral of the Mediterranean Sea was transformed into the unique and extraordinary Sciacca Coral, which grows in great quantity in the Sciacca area.
The Sciacca coral is characterized by unique shades of color, which go from the intense orange-red to the salmon-pink.
In 1875 three trawler captains from Sciacca found some "red gold" in their nets and, soon thereafter, broke the news in the city, thus starting a "gold rush".
- Creator:SERRA
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Dimensions:Width: 7.88 in (200 mm)
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Roma, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1922211309502
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
1stDibs seller since 2020
34 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 4 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Roma, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Fountain of the Turtles in Sterling Silver and Travertine Base 'Rome, 1581'Located in Roma, ITIn Rione XI - Sant'Angelo, a few steps from the Old Jewish Quarter, surrounded by the palaces that once belonged to the noble Mattei family who gave the square its name, stands one o...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Classical Roman Figurines and Sculptures
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Micromosaic " Doves of Pliny " from " Vatican Studio " Sterling Silver BoxLocated in Roma, ITIn this interesting sterling silver box, is set a micromosaic, depicting “ The doves of Pliny”, from a famous mosaic attributed to Sosus of Pergamon. He was a Greek mosaic artist of the second century BC. He is the only mosaic artist whose name was recorded in literature. The original mosaic from Hadrian's Villa, now in the Capitoline Museums, depicts a group of doves on a round bowl. As described by Pliny, one dove is drinking while the others are sunning themselves. The Doves of Pliny, or the "Capitoline Doves...Category
Antique 1850s Italian Boxes and Cases
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Stirrup Cup Wine Glasses Depicting a Fallow DeerLocated in Roma, ITThis fallow deer is one of 12 sterling silver "stirrup" glasses ( vermeil inside ) , whose models date back to around the mid-1900s, and represent 12 animals that can be placed at the table to serve wine. Most popular in the late 18th and 19th century, antique silver stirrup cups...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Vanity Items
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Binder Clip with Authentic Roman Coin Depicting Antonia AugustaLocated in Roma, ITThis sterling silver binder clip is an exclusive Serra model, created at the end of the 1980s and always reproduced ((using authentic and different Roman coins) because it is an ele...Category
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Wine Glass 'Fox, Part of a Set of 12 Different Animals'Located in Roma, ITThis fox glass is one of 12 exclusive Serra's sterling silver "stirrup glasses", (weight 360 gr ) models, date back to around the mid-1900s, and represent 12 animals that can be placed on the table to serve wine. Our 12 glasses are now used to be added to other crystal glasses, maybe to serve a special wine! In this difficult historical period for our health, drinking from silver glasses is really a great help: silver is rich in antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that eradicate the bacteria and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. It can be used as a natural disinfectant of any liquid. Silver is a natural immunity booster . Its nanoparticles create an immunomodulatory activity that gives you a healthy immune system. Popular since the late 18th and 19th century, antique silver stirrup cups...Category
2010s Italian Figurines and Sculptures
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Sterling Silver Stirrup Cup 'Deer’Located in Roma, ITThis deer is one of 12 exclusive Serra's sterling silver "stirrup glasses", (weight 360 gr circa ) models date back to around the mid-1900s, and represent 12 animals that can be placed on the table to serve wine. Te Our 12 glasses are now used to be added to other crystal glasses, maybe to serve a special wine! In this difficult historical period for our health, drinking from silver glasses is really a great help: silver is rich in antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that eradicate the bacteria and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. It can be used as a natural disinfectant of any liquid. Silver is a natural immunity booster . Its nanoparticles create an immunomodulatory activity that gives you a healthy immune system. Popular since the late 18th and 19th century, antique silver stirrup cups...Category
2010s Italian Figurines and Sculptures
You May Also Like
- Antique Leonore Doskow Sterling Silver Ruler/Letter OpenerBy Leonore DoskowLocated in Philadelphia, PAA fine antique sterling silver ruler. By Leonore Doskow. With a pointed end for opening letters and 6 inches of measurement marks. Simply a gr...Category
20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Mid-Century Cartier Sterling Silver Letter Opener or Page TurnerBy CartierLocated in Philadelphia, PAA very fine letter opener. By Cartier. In sterling silver. Model no. 75-10IN Simply a wonderful piece of Cartier silver! Date: Mid-20th Century Overall Condition: It is in ove...Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Desk Accessories
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Signed Old or Antique Russian 84 Zolotnik Silver Page Cutter or Letter OpenerLocated in Philadelphia, PAA fine Russian silver page cutter (or letter opener). Possibly by Gerasim Mitrofanov. With a lozenge form handle with cast leaf-work. Marked with a second Kokoshnik mark (1908 to...Category
Early 20th Century Russian Retro Desk Accessories
MaterialsSilver
- Birmingham 1994 Sterling Silver Letter OpenerLocated in Montreal, QCBirmingham 1994 sterling silver letter opener, dragon design in the original box, 8 1/2 inches long. Hallmarks viisble, good condition, maker unknown.Category
1990s British Desk Accessories
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Antique Russian Imperial Nephrite Sterling Silver Bear Letter OpenerLocated in New York, NYThis exquisite Russian Imperial letter opened features medium green translucent nephrite knife with black inclusions and very luster. The handle a...Category
Antique Early 1900s Desk Accessories
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Antique David Andersen Sterling Silver & Plique a Jour Enamel Letter OpenerBy David AndersenLocated in Philadelphia, PAA fine antique letter opener or knife by David Andersen. In sterling silver with plique a jour enamel decoration to the handle. Simply a wonder...Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Russian Empire Enamel Frames and Objects
MaterialsSterling Silver, Enamel
