Dish (one of a graduated set of seven) 1741 - 1742

This silver dish, crafted by Paul de Lamerie, features prominent seashell motifs. These aren't mere decorations; they resonate with a deep, primal connection to the sea, fertility, and the feminine. Consider Botticelli’s Venus emerging from a scallop shell – a symbol of birth and renewal. This motif, echoed here, traverses time, reminding us of our ancient ties to the ocean's bounty. Shells, throughout history, have been emblems of pilgrimage, protection, and even currency. The subconscious mind recognizes in these shapes a promise of abundance. Their curves and cavities, suggestive of both shelter and potential, tap into our deepest instincts. Lamerie's dish, therefore, is not just an object of utility; it is a vessel carrying centuries of symbolic weight. The symbol of the shell has transformed and resurfaced, reminding us of the past and its cyclical dance with the present.