Spice box 1738 - 1750

Crafted by Johann Engelbrecht, this small silver spice box features a prominent shell motif at its center. In the 18th century, the shell was more than mere decoration; it symbolized pilgrimage, fertility, and divine protection. Echoes of the shell resonate through centuries. Consider Botticelli's Venus, arriving ashore on a giant scallop shell, embodying rebirth and beauty. Even further back, in ancient Roman art, the shell was linked to Venus, the goddess of love, its form evocative of the womb, a vessel of life. Here on this spice box, the shell's presence may also stir subconscious memories, connecting us to the primal allure of the sea and the bounty it offers. This little box is not just a container for spices, it is a vessel carrying layers of cultural memory, reminding us that symbols transcend time, continually resurfacing, evolving, and sparking new meanings.