PROBABLY VENETIAN, 19TH CENTURY

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