Jeweled Pendant in the Form of a Snail Sea Monster, with a Triton Blowing a Horn 1582

Editor: This is Adriaen Collaert's "Jeweled Pendant in the Form of a Snail Sea Monster, with a Triton Blowing a Horn." It’s undated. What strikes me is the tension between the fantastical creature and its intended function as adornment. What do you make of that contrast? Curator: It's interesting, isn't it? Consider the historical context. Collaert created this design at a time of great colonial expansion and exploitation of natural resources. How might this pendant, with its fantastical yet naturalistic elements, reflect anxieties about humanity's relationship with the natural world and its subjugation? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, framing it within a broader socio-political context. Curator: These designs were meant to inspire awe and wonder, but also perhaps to subtly reinforce a worldview where nature is there for human use and display. Editor: That adds a layer of complexity I hadn’t considered. Thanks!