Turban shell cup c. 1600 - 1625

This ‘Turban Shell Cup’, standing at nearly 50 cm tall, was crafted by Jörg Ruel in the early 17th century. The cup is fashioned from silver and a turban shell, an object that would have been seen as both exotic and luxurious at the time. The piece is overtly masculine; the figure of Poseidon sits atop the vessel, a second male nude strains to hold the shell aloft. The shell itself would have been seen as a symbol of fertility and femininity, but its beauty is here presented as a burden carried by the male form. What does it mean to see the natural world, and by extension, the feminine, as something to be dominated and literally held up by masculine effort? Consider the economic structures required to produce such an object. It represents not only skilled craftsmanship, but also access to global trade routes. This piece serves as a potent reminder of the intersection between artistic expression, social status, and the complex dynamics of gender roles in the 17th century.