Conch Shell Tiara

Close up image of a tiara made from conch shell. In the center is a woman's bust looking down and to the right. She is wearing a pearl necklace, has long hair which is pulled back from her face and you can see the sleeves of her dress on her shoulders. The bust is framed within a scallop shell. To either side of her are little cherubs with seahorse tails, blowing conch shells.

© The Trustees of the British Museum source

This lovely tiara is part of the Conch Shell parure at the British Museum. It was made around 1850-1870 in Naples and the whole set is carved with marine motifs including dolphins, seahorses, mermaids and scallop shells. The curator notes on the British Museum site are better than anything I can paraphrase so I'm just going to quote from the description. I think after reading the notes you can get a real appreciation for the technical skill required to create this.

Technically, this is a tour de force: each piece in this set is made up of multiple elements, cut from thin sections to achieve an almost translucent effect and then riveted to a gold framework, invisible from the front. Much of the work is undercut or hollowed out with remarkable delicacy. The giant, or Queen, conch shell (Strombus gigas) was imported from the West Indies and occurs as distinct pink and white layers. Because the layers are relatively thin, and the strong colour occurs mainly on the lip of the shell, multiple pieces were often built up to create a high relief cameo effect.
Close up of one of the seahorses on the tiara. It's head is turned to the right, looking over its back. It's front arm is in front of a conch shell that it appears to be holding. There are small leaves under the seahorse.

© The Trustees of the British Museum source

The parure is not marked, but there is no doubt that it was carved and mounted in Naples, the centre of the shell and coral carving industry. Shell work was widely exported to England. If not acquired on a visit to Italy, the parure may have been purchased from one of the importers of Neapolitan jewellery in London such as the Bond Street firm of Robert Phillips, who exhibited work from Naples at the London International Exhibition of 1862.
A picture of the entire parure in its blue velvet lined case. The parure consists of a tiara, bracelet, necklace, brooch (which converts to a pendant) and earrings, all carved out of conch shell.

© The Trustees of the British Museum source

One last picture for you all - it's not the tiara but the bracelet of the parure but it does let you get another close look at the gorgeous carving.

Close up view of the conch shell bracelet. The center piece is a woman's bust, head looking to the left. She has a pearl necklace, stiff lace ruff behind her, and her hair is in an updo. She is framed in a scallop shell and behind the scallop shell are other marine motifs like shells. To either side are cupids with seahorse tails, blowing conch shells.

© The Trustees of the British Museum source

image of a white rabbit popping out of his rabbit hole, looking around, and going back in. His rabbit hole is surrounded by grass and some carrots in the ground.

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