A Victorian Natural History Specimen / Wunderkammer Shell Display on Turned Walnut Pedestal, the Melo melo shell (fam. Volutidae), Italy, 1880.

Italy circa 1880.

An important and elegant natural history specimen of scientific and collector’s interest, typical of European late 19th-century cabinets of curiosities. The composition is dominated by a large, fine shell specimen of the exotic gastropod Melo melo (Family Volutidae, Lightfoot 1786), displayed in a vertical position. The base is embellished with a natural cluster of minor shells, including Polinices mammilla (Linnaeus, 1758), Natica vitellus (Linnaeus, 1758), and Trochus maculatus (Linnaeus, 1758).The entire piece rests on a refined turned pedestal made of walnut wood (Juglans regia) with a shaped profile. Italy, circa 1880.

Misure 16” – 41 CM H 3,50” – 9 CM L 8” – 20 CM D

Codice REF: M2807