A NORTH ITALIAN SILVERED AND POLYCHROME-DECORATED SHELL-FORM 'GROTTO' DAYBED
A NORTH ITALIAN SILVERED AND POLYCHROME-DECORATED SHELL-FORM 'GROTTO' DAYBED

PROBABLY VENETIAN, 19TH CENTURY

Details
A NORTH ITALIAN SILVERED AND POLYCHROME-DECORATED SHELL-FORM 'GROTTO' DAYBED
PROBABLY VENETIAN, 19TH CENTURY
Both ends with scallop shell or wave-pattern carving and on winged claw feet
44 in. (112 cm.) high, 103 in. (262 cm.) long, 53 in. (135 cm.) wide
Provenance
By repute Rose Cumming.
Property from the Estate of Samuel P. Reed; Sotheby's, New York, 28 April 2007, lot 210 ($21,600).
Further details
BANQUETTE DE GROTTE EN FORME DE COQUILLE À DECOR POLYCHROME ET ARGENTE, ITALIE DU NORD, PROBABLEMENT VENISE

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Lot Essay

This fantastical bed is a rare example of 'Grotto' furniture and its shell form recalls the birth of Aphrodite. The fashion for building whimsical shell-encrusted grottos began in the early 17th century but it's popularity increased dramatically when the court of Louis XIV became fascinated with shells and natural forms. This fashion spread to landscape design and there was a huge demand for architectural follies such as grottoes and pagodas among the English, French and Italian aristocracy. The subterranean, almost magical aspect of the watery grotto with its encrusted shells also had great appeal to the Victorians and the need for furniture was a natural outgrowth. Although 18th century designs for furniture such as grotto chairs exist, virtually all of the known examples were produced in the late 19th century and employs a distinct design vocabulary. Scallop shells in some form are usually combined with other marine elements such as sea horses, dolphins, triton horns and coral. The vast majority consists of seat furniture and not surprisingly, by the late 19th century Venice had a number of workshops specializing in shell furniture

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