FEDERICO BUCCELLATI

Height x width: 11.5 x 7.5 cm. Weight: 130.5 g.

Refined ornamental object composed of a natural marine shell, probably belonging to the family Muricidae and tentatively attributable to the Murex/Chicoreus group, entirely enclosed within a custom-made silver mount.
The silver mount faithfully follows the shell's complex natural morphology, accurately reproducing its slender spire, robust wing-like varices, elongated siphonal canal, and richly undulating exterior surface, while leaving the natural aperture and the delicately enamelled interior, displaying soft ivory and orange hues, fully visible.
Finished with a brilliant mirror polish, the silver adheres perfectly to the shell's exterior, enhancing its bold sculptural modelling and the richness of its forms without altering their natural balance. The refined contrast between the precious metal and the shell's luminous interior creates an elegant decorative effect, recalling the historic tradition of shells mounted in precious metal, reinterpreted through the unmistakable stylistic language of Federico Buccellati.