Turban snail shell cup c. 1560

3d sculpting

circular oval feature

germany

wedding photograph

egg art

jewellry advertising photography

jewelry design

virtual 3d design

round design

retro 'vintage design

round circular shape

This 16th-century Turban Snail Shell Cup is a remarkable example of Renaissance craftsmanship. The natural shell has been transformed into a luxurious drinking vessel, adorned with gold, precious stones, and an inscription. The intricate details, including the three feet and the decorative lid, showcase the skill of the anonymous artist. The cup's opulence reflects the wealth and taste of its original owner, likely a member of the European aristocracy. This stunning piece of art is now part of the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Travel, trade and scientific discoveries in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries gave rise to a new type of collecting in which curiosities of nature and man-made works of art and science were gathered together by princes and wealthy connoisseurs in cabinets of curiosities which referred to both cabinets as well as one or more rooms. Hybrid objects, such as this turban snail shell cup were especially prized for the marriage of nature and art.