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{"id":5603664494742,"title":"Nautilus Shell Sterling Silver Centrepiece, Buccellati, Italy – Mid 20th Century","handle":"nautilus-shell-sterling-silver-centrepiece-buccellati-italy-mid-20th-century","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis superb nautilus shell sterling silver centrepiece was designed by Mario Buccellati as part of the marine animal section from his highly regarded silver animal collection.  Remarkably naturalistic, it is an assemblage of six large upturned and finely detailed solid silver nautilus shells on a base of cast silver clamshells with additional applied small cast silver shells which - we think - include Atlantic oyster drills and necklace shells.  The silver marks to the underside state ‘BUCCELATI ITALY STERLING’ and there is an additional mark, possibly a product or inventory number, ‘Z788’.  Also engraved to the underside of the base is the Royal Saudi Naval Forces emblem.  The banner shaped cartouche underneath the emblem was probably intended to contain the name of a ship, or perhaps a person, but never engraved. The palm tree over crossed swords was adopted as the emblem of Saudi Arabia in 1950 during the reign of King Abdulaziz (1932 – 1953) who was known in the west as ‘Ibn Saud’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnusually for us, this magnificent centrepiece dates to the mid- twentieth century and is not yet antique. Despite its youth, we just couldn’t resist acquiring it for our European collection!  Finely crafted by hand, this centrepiece is such a tactile, impressive, timeless, and captivating object of the very highest quality and considerable beauty, which displays superbly!  We believe it dates to the 1960s, making it around 60 years old. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuccellati are jewellers who have become equally well-known for their silverwork, especially for its animal, bird and marine sculptures.  Founded in the mid XVIIIth century by Contardo Buccellati, the family business was re-invigorated in the twentieth century by Mario Buccellati (1891-1965), nicknamed the “Prince of Goldsmiths” Born in Ancona, Mario began his apprenticeship when he was twelve, with the Italian jewellery company Beltrami \u0026amp; Besnati.  He opened his first jewellery store in Largo Santa Margherita, Milan in 1919 and then expanded to Rome and Florence. In 1951, Buccellati expanded the business internationally, opening a store in New York. Mario had five sons, most of whom became involved in the business after his death, but it was his son, Gianmaria (1929-2015), who was the greatest creative force of his generation and led the firm’s worldwide expansion. In 1979 they opened their flagship store in the Place Vendome, Paris and are a member of the prestigious Vendome Committee.  Following family traditions, Gianmaria’s son Andrea and Andrea’s daughter, Lucrezia, continued developing the Buccellati style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSilver has always been a significant part of the firm’s production and the incomparable quality of the Buccellati engraving alone, constitutes its signature.  Mario used old methods of metal working and decoration, developing his own engraving techniques, which became characteristic features of the Buccellati house style. Their most renowned engraving techniques are \u003cem\u003erigato\u003c\/em\u003e (parallel lines cut onto the surface of metal to obtain a sheen effect), \u003cem\u003etelato\u003c\/em\u003e (texture, obtained by fine cross-hatched lines, which imitate the surface of linen), \u003cem\u003esegrinato\u003c\/em\u003e (engraving in every possible directions, overlapping textures), \u003cem\u003eornato\u003c\/em\u003e (decoration, based on nature forms: animals, leaves, flowers) and \u003cem\u003emodellato\u003c\/em\u003e (the most delicate engraving technique, which consists of reproducing several designs chiselled in three dimensions on a minuscule scale, mainly used for the decorations of the borders).  Some of these remarkable engraving techniques have been used to great effect, in creating this nautilus centrepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMario Buccellati drew his inspiration from Italy’s rich cultural heritage of classical, Renaissance, rococo and baroque.  He was also influenced by Italian and oriental art and the architectural motifs of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, such as geometrical and mosaic patterns and scrollwork, which had a great influence on his designs.   Etruscan silver treasures, the still life paintings of the Old Masters and baroque fountains also inspired him. He created a myriad of fruit, flower and leaf-form silver vessels and vases engraved with textured surfaces and inset with hardstones.  He developed a range of boxes engraved with architectural views, religious imagery and imitating precious fabrics, such as silk brocade, which are also iconic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, it is the animal sculptures, conceived by Mario, which receive the greatest attention. The aquatic world has always provided a rich vein of inspiration and Buccellati has produced still-life baskets of fish, shells, nautiluses, and octopuses as well as shell-form bowls, extravagant tableaux of battling sea creatures and a fluted bowl supported by ten seahorses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor their animals, a process of fur and feather techniques, known as “lavorazione a pelo”, is used to create animal hair, fur and birds’ feathers, from sheets of silver which are shredded into hundreds of individual pieces. These can be used in a variety of different ways to imitate the different textures of an animal’s coat, from coarse bristles to the soft fluffy down of a newly hatched chick.  Over time, the silver ‘fur’ oxidises, and the works acquires a dark and beautiful patina. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuccelati’s silver and jewellery have been the subject of several important exhibitions including those at the Smithsonian Institution in 2000\/1 and the Moscow Kremlin Museums in 2007\/8. Since 2006, Buccellati’s silver animals are also the subject of a permanent exhibition at the Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama.  In September 2019 Buccellati was acquired by the Luxury Goods holding company, Richemont.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eProvenance:-  \u003c\/em\u003e UK antiques trade\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDimensions:-    \u003c\/em\u003eHeight 14  cms;  Width 35 cms  Depth 25 cms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWeight:-          \u003c\/em\u003e  2320  grammes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReferences:-\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuccellati.com\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGianmaria Buccellati, Buccellati:  Art in Gold, Silver and Gems, Skira, Milan 2000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartina Corgnasi, Mario Buccellati:  Prince of Goldsmiths, Rizzoli, New York 1998\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuccellati:  A Silver Menagerie, A Permanent Exhibition, Huntsville Museum of Art, Alabama (from 2006)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExhibition:-  San Francisco Academy of Sciences, The Art of Buccellati, 1995\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExhibition:-  Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto,  The Art of Buccellati, 1996\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExhibition:-  Smithsonian, Washington, Buccellati: Art in Gold, Silver and Gems, 2000\/1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExhibition:-  The Moscow Kremlin Museums,  The Buccellati Heritage.  Timeless Art of Jewellery  2007\/8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJennifer Pitman, The Jeweled Menagerie, What’s Collectible, Wag, 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e April 2019\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2022-09-15T12:05:39+01:00","created_at":"2020-08-12T15:07:06+01:00","vendor":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","type":"Shell Sterling","tags":["Sold 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superb nautilus shell sterling silver centrepiece was designed by Mario Buccellati as part of the marine animal section from his highly regarded silver animal collection.  Remarkably naturalistic, it is an assemblage of six large upturned and finely detailed solid silver nautilus shells on a base of cast silver clamshells with additional applied small cast silver shells which - we think - include Atlantic oyster drills and necklace shells.  The silver marks to the underside state ‘BUCCELATI ITALY STERLING’ and there is an additional mark, possibly a product or inventory number, ‘Z788’.  Also engraved to the underside of the base is the Royal Saudi Naval Forces emblem.  The banner shaped cartouche underneath the emblem was probably intended to contain the name of a ship, or perhaps a person, but never engraved. The palm tree over crossed swords was adopted as the emblem of Saudi Arabia in 1950 during the reign of King Abdulaziz (1932 – 1953) who was known in the west as ‘Ibn Saud’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnusually for us, this magnificent centrepiece dates to the mid- twentieth century and is not yet antique. Despite its youth, we just couldn’t resist acquiring it for our European collection!  Finely crafted by hand, this centrepiece is such a tactile, impressive, timeless, and captivating object of the very highest quality and considerable beauty, which displays superbly!  We believe it dates to the 1960s, making it around 60 years old. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuccellati are jewellers who have become equally well-known for their silverwork, especially for its animal, bird and marine sculptures.  Founded in the mid XVIIIth century by Contardo Buccellati, the family business was re-invigorated in the twentieth century by Mario Buccellati (1891-1965), nicknamed the “Prince of Goldsmiths” Born in Ancona, Mario began his apprenticeship when he was twelve, with the Italian jewellery company Beltrami \u0026amp; Besnati.  He opened his first jewellery store in Largo Santa Margherita, Milan in 1919 and then expanded to Rome and Florence. In 1951, Buccellati expanded the business internationally, opening a store in New York. Mario had five sons, most of whom became involved in the business after his death, but it was his son, Gianmaria (1929-2015), who was the greatest creative force of his generation and led the firm’s worldwide expansion. In 1979 they opened their flagship store in the Place Vendome, Paris and are a member of the prestigious Vendome Committee.  Following family traditions, Gianmaria’s son Andrea and Andrea’s daughter, Lucrezia, continued developing the Buccellati style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSilver has always been a significant part of the firm’s production and the incomparable quality of the Buccellati engraving alone, constitutes its signature.  Mario used old methods of metal working and decoration, developing his own engraving techniques, which became characteristic features of the Buccellati house style. Their most renowned engraving techniques are \u003cem\u003erigato\u003c\/em\u003e (parallel lines cut onto the surface of metal to obtain a sheen effect), \u003cem\u003etelato\u003c\/em\u003e (texture, obtained by fine cross-hatched lines, which imitate the surface of linen), \u003cem\u003esegrinato\u003c\/em\u003e (engraving in every possible directions, overlapping textures), \u003cem\u003eornato\u003c\/em\u003e (decoration, based on nature forms: animals, leaves, flowers) and \u003cem\u003emodellato\u003c\/em\u003e (the most delicate engraving technique, which consists of reproducing several designs chiselled in three dimensions on a minuscule scale, mainly used for the decorations of the borders).  Some of these remarkable engraving techniques have been used to great effect, in creating this nautilus centrepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMario Buccellati drew his inspiration from Italy’s rich cultural heritage of classical, Renaissance, rococo and baroque.  He was also influenced by Italian and oriental art and the architectural motifs of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, such as geometrical and mosaic patterns and scrollwork, which had a great influence on his designs.   Etruscan silver treasures, the still life paintings of the Old Masters and baroque fountains also inspired him. He created a myriad of fruit, flower and leaf-form silver vessels and vases engraved with textured surfaces and inset with hardstones.  He developed a range of boxes engraved with architectural views, religious imagery and imitating precious fabrics, such as silk brocade, which are also iconic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, it is the animal sculptures, conceived by Mario, which receive the greatest attention. The aquatic world has always provided a rich vein of inspiration and Buccellati has produced still-life baskets of fish, shells, nautiluses, and octopuses as well as shell-form bowls, extravagant tableaux of battling sea creatures and a fluted bowl supported by ten seahorses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor their animals, a process of fur and feather techniques, known as “lavorazione a pelo”, is used to create animal hair, fur and birds’ feathers, from sheets of silver which are shredded into hundreds of individual pieces. These can be used in a variety of different ways to imitate the different textures of an animal’s coat, from coarse bristles to the soft fluffy down of a newly hatched chick.  Over time, the silver ‘fur’ oxidises, and the works acquires a dark and beautiful patina. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuccelati’s silver and jewellery have been the subject of several important exhibitions including those at the Smithsonian Institution in 2000\/1 and the Moscow Kremlin Museums in 2007\/8. Since 2006, Buccellati’s silver animals are also the subject of a permanent exhibition at the Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama.  In September 2019 Buccellati was acquired by the Luxury Goods holding company, Richemont.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eProvenance:-  \u003c\/em\u003e UK antiques trade\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDimensions:-    \u003c\/em\u003eHeight 14  cms;  Width 35 cms  Depth 25 cms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWeight:-          \u003c\/em\u003e  2320  grammes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReferences:-\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuccellati.com\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGianmaria Buccellati, Buccellati:  Art in Gold, Silver and Gems, Skira, Milan 2000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartina Corgnasi, Mario Buccellati:  Prince of Goldsmiths, Rizzoli, New York 1998\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuccellati:  A Silver Menagerie, A Permanent Exhibition, Huntsville Museum of Art, Alabama (from 2006)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExhibition:-  San Francisco Academy of Sciences, The Art of Buccellati, 1995\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExhibition:-  Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto,  The Art of Buccellati, 1996\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExhibition:-  Smithsonian, Washington, Buccellati: Art in Gold, Silver and Gems, 2000\/1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExhibition:-  The Moscow Kremlin Museums,  The Buccellati Heritage.  Timeless Art of Jewellery  2007\/8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJennifer Pitman, The Jeweled Menagerie, What’s Collectible, Wag, 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e April 2019\u003c\/p\u003e"}

Nautilus Shell Sterling Silver Centrepiece, Buccellati, Italy – Mid 20th Century

Product Description

This superb nautilus shell sterling silver centrepiece was designed by Mario Buccellati as part of the marine animal section from his highly regarded silver animal collection.  Remarkably naturalistic, it is an assemblage of six large upturned and finely detailed solid silver nautilus shells on a base of cast silver clamshells with additional applied small cast silver shells which - we think - include Atlantic oyster drills and necklace shells.  The silver marks to the underside state ‘BUCCELATI ITALY STERLING’ and there is an additional mark, possibly a product or inventory number, ‘Z788’.  Also engraved to the underside of the base is the Royal Saudi Naval Forces emblem.  The banner shaped cartouche underneath the emblem was probably intended to contain the name of a ship, or perhaps a person, but never engraved. The palm tree over crossed swords was adopted as the emblem of Saudi Arabia in 1950 during the reign of King Abdulaziz (1932 – 1953) who was known in the west as ‘Ibn Saud’.

Unusually for us, this magnificent centrepiece dates to the mid- twentieth century and is not yet antique. Despite its youth, we just couldn’t resist acquiring it for our European collection!  Finely crafted by hand, this centrepiece is such a tactile, impressive, timeless, and captivating object of the very highest quality and considerable beauty, which displays superbly!  We believe it dates to the 1960s, making it around 60 years old. 

Buccellati are jewellers who have become equally well-known for their silverwork, especially for its animal, bird and marine sculptures.  Founded in the mid XVIIIth century by Contardo Buccellati, the family business was re-invigorated in the twentieth century by Mario Buccellati (1891-1965), nicknamed the “Prince of Goldsmiths” Born in Ancona, Mario began his apprenticeship when he was twelve, with the Italian jewellery company Beltrami & Besnati.  He opened his first jewellery store in Largo Santa Margherita, Milan in 1919 and then expanded to Rome and Florence. In 1951, Buccellati expanded the business internationally, opening a store in New York. Mario had five sons, most of whom became involved in the business after his death, but it was his son, Gianmaria (1929-2015), who was the greatest creative force of his generation and led the firm’s worldwide expansion. In 1979 they opened their flagship store in the Place Vendome, Paris and are a member of the prestigious Vendome Committee.  Following family traditions, Gianmaria’s son Andrea and Andrea’s daughter, Lucrezia, continued developing the Buccellati style.

Silver has always been a significant part of the firm’s production and the incomparable quality of the Buccellati engraving alone, constitutes its signature.  Mario used old methods of metal working and decoration, developing his own engraving techniques, which became characteristic features of the Buccellati house style. Their most renowned engraving techniques are rigato (parallel lines cut onto the surface of metal to obtain a sheen effect), telato (texture, obtained by fine cross-hatched lines, which imitate the surface of linen), segrinato (engraving in every possible directions, overlapping textures), ornato (decoration, based on nature forms: animals, leaves, flowers) and modellato (the most delicate engraving technique, which consists of reproducing several designs chiselled in three dimensions on a minuscule scale, mainly used for the decorations of the borders).  Some of these remarkable engraving techniques have been used to great effect, in creating this nautilus centrepiece.

Mario Buccellati drew his inspiration from Italy’s rich cultural heritage of classical, Renaissance, rococo and baroque.  He was also influenced by Italian and oriental art and the architectural motifs of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, such as geometrical and mosaic patterns and scrollwork, which had a great influence on his designs.   Etruscan silver treasures, the still life paintings of the Old Masters and baroque fountains also inspired him. He created a myriad of fruit, flower and leaf-form silver vessels and vases engraved with textured surfaces and inset with hardstones.  He developed a range of boxes engraved with architectural views, religious imagery and imitating precious fabrics, such as silk brocade, which are also iconic.

However, it is the animal sculptures, conceived by Mario, which receive the greatest attention. The aquatic world has always provided a rich vein of inspiration and Buccellati has produced still-life baskets of fish, shells, nautiluses, and octopuses as well as shell-form bowls, extravagant tableaux of battling sea creatures and a fluted bowl supported by ten seahorses.

For their animals, a process of fur and feather techniques, known as “lavorazione a pelo”, is used to create animal hair, fur and birds’ feathers, from sheets of silver which are shredded into hundreds of individual pieces. These can be used in a variety of different ways to imitate the different textures of an animal’s coat, from coarse bristles to the soft fluffy down of a newly hatched chick.  Over time, the silver ‘fur’ oxidises, and the works acquires a dark and beautiful patina. 

Buccelati’s silver and jewellery have been the subject of several important exhibitions including those at the Smithsonian Institution in 2000/1 and the Moscow Kremlin Museums in 2007/8. Since 2006, Buccellati’s silver animals are also the subject of a permanent exhibition at the Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama.  In September 2019 Buccellati was acquired by the Luxury Goods holding company, Richemont.

Provenance:-   UK antiques trade

Dimensions:-    Height 14  cms;  Width 35 cms  Depth 25 cms

Weight:-            2320  grammes

References:-

Buccellati.com

Gianmaria Buccellati, Buccellati:  Art in Gold, Silver and Gems, Skira, Milan 2000

Martina Corgnasi, Mario Buccellati:  Prince of Goldsmiths, Rizzoli, New York 1998

Buccellati:  A Silver Menagerie, A Permanent Exhibition, Huntsville Museum of Art, Alabama (from 2006)

Exhibition:-  San Francisco Academy of Sciences, The Art of Buccellati, 1995

Exhibition:-  Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto,  The Art of Buccellati, 1996

Exhibition:-  Smithsonian, Washington, Buccellati: Art in Gold, Silver and Gems, 2000/1

Exhibition:-  The Moscow Kremlin Museums,  The Buccellati Heritage.  Timeless Art of Jewellery  2007/8

Jennifer Pitman, The Jeweled Menagerie, What’s Collectible, Wag, 1st April 2019

Sku: JC-SHEL-06949
SOLD
Maximum quantity available reached.

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