Lambis lambis shell from the wreck of the Dutch East India ship Witte Leeuw before 1613

Editor: So, this is a Lambis lambis shell from before 1613. It comes from the wreck of the Dutch East India ship Witte Leeuw. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum, and it is remarkably well-preserved. Looking at its form, I’m struck by how weathered it seems and, also, the striking contrast of its almost symmetrical design with its organic, unpredictable shape. What design elements do you focus on when viewing this piece? Curator: The shell, first, embodies the spiral form, a motif found across nature and art history, from the Fibonacci sequence to ancient architecture. The projections emanating from its body introduce a staccato rhythm, a visual counterpoint to the shell’s overall curving lines. Editor: Rhythm, that’s an interesting point. It’s almost as if the shell is frozen mid-expansion. How do the colour variations influence its aesthetic appeal? Curator: Observe how the gradations from off-white to deep brown delineate its age, its journey. The discolouration, far from detracting, adds to the sculpture’s allure. These imperfections emphasize its materiality and lived history. The formal structure creates a tension. Are we perceiving something living or long dead? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. So, the interplay between form and decomposition becomes a key aspect of its beauty? Curator: Precisely. It is an organic objet d'art presented almost unchanged, and that resonates. By isolating the artifact in this way, and removing any suggestion of where the object came from, or its likely use as trade currency by the crew of the Witte Leeuw, the museum installation highlights the visual architecture of the form. The intent may have been more cultural than artistic originally, but what remains is almost timeless in its design. Editor: I now see so many new design features that the installation brought out! Thanks! Curator: My pleasure!