Nautilus cup 19th century

This Nautilus cup was crafted by Friedrich Hillebrand around the late 16th to early 17th century. It is made of nautilus shell, silver, and gilded silver. The cup marries organic and artificial forms. The luminous, curved nautilus shell contrasts sharply with the rigid, angular metalwork, creating a visually arresting interplay between nature and human artifice. Note how the shell’s pearly surface invites the viewer's gaze, its natural patterns subtly shifting with the light. The mythological figures of Neptune with a trident and a sea creature on the lid serve as allegorical expressions of man's dominion over nature. The base, supported by a siren, adds to the cup’s symbolic representation of maritime power and wealth. The cup operates within a semiotic system where materials and motifs function as signs, encoding messages about status, knowledge, and control over the natural world. The cup reflects a time when art was deeply intertwined with displays of opulence and erudition.