Mounted Nautilus shell

This mounted Nautilus shell is a reference to the cabinets of curiosity that emerged from the 16th century onwards. Because of the great voyages of discovery of that time, people came into contact with exotics, such as the Nautilus shell. The Nautilus is a type of squid, found in tropical waters. Most are found between Australia and Southern Indonesia. In the past Nautilus shells were mounted and turned into fabulous cups. A wonderful example from the 16th or the beginning of the 17th century can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.