Facsimile of Nautilus Goblet (early 17th century) c. 1900

Curator: The *Facsimile of Nautilus Goblet*—an early 17th-century marvel—strikes me as an embodiment of opulence, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. It's an immediate display of wealth and power through luxury materials. It feels almost aggressively decorative. Curator: Indeed. The nautilus shell itself is quite significant—often seen as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity during that period. The imagery of abundance is hard to miss. Editor: And that triton figure—burdened yet defiant—holding the vessel aloft. I see in it a visual metaphor for social hierarchies, but also the cultural fascination with the sea at the time. These nautilus cups were traded objects. Curator: I agree. There’s a dialogue between nature and artifice, a tension that underscores the status of the owner and the craftsmanship of its creation. Editor: Well, whatever the intention, it serves as a striking artifact that shows us the value and importance these sorts of ornate objects had. Curator: Yes, a powerful visual echo from a very different world.