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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ethnographic / Colorful Sea Urchin Exoskeletons with Contrasting...
Wunderkammer Inspiration for Sophisticated Collecting — A vertical sculpture of notable visual impact is presented, conceived as a contemporary homage to the aesthetic of Wunderkammern, the famous cabinets of curiosities. This work skillfully assembles natural and artificial elements to create a tower made of authentic sea urchin tests, elegantly interspersed with turned brass spacers and mounted on a solid black lacquered wooden base. The piece constitutes a highly refined object, a bridge between marine biology and decorative art. The composition unfolds on a vertical axis that rhythmically alternates six sea urchin tests of different sizes and colors. There are larger specimens, characterized by a warm orange-pink hue with lighter radial bands, and smaller spines of a delicate lavender shade. The surface of each shell is a masterpiece of natural architecture, finely studded with the tubercles where the spines once articulated, and designed by perfect pentameral symmetry. To separate and enhance each natural element, components in solid brass are inserted, whose polished golden finish creates a sophisticated contrast with the matte, porous texture of the shells. The sea urchin tests, known in biology as “teeth” or “tests,” are the calcareous structures that protect the organism of the sea urchin. Composed mainly of calcium carbonate, these skeletons are formed by plates welded together that grow according to a radial symmetry pattern, typical of echinoderms. The delicate chromatic shades visible in the specimens are entirely natural, determined by the pigments specific to the species and by the environmental conditions in which the animal lived. Their conservation in this sculpture allows for an up-close appreciation of one of the most fascinating and geometrically complex forms produced by the natural world. The work deliberately situates itself in the tradition of the collecting culture of the Cabinets of Curiosities, born in Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. In these private spaces, collectors gathered natura (objects of the natural world), artificialia (human creations), and scientifical (scientific instruments). This tower is a perfect synthesis of that spirit: the urchins represent the natura, while the assembly with brass and wood qualifies it as artificialia, an artistic interpretation of nature. It is an object that speaks to a cultivated collector, fond of natural history and scientific curiosities. Beyond its conceptual value, the sculpture possesses extraordinary decorative significance. With its considerable height and elongated form, it becomes a focal point in any setting, capable of captivating attention. It is ideal for display on a library shelf, a console in an entryway, a professional studio, or as an accent piece in a living room with a taste that is both classic and contemporary. The dialogue between the organic geometry of the urchins and the strict lines of the brass base and supports creates a visually elegant balance. Created in 2025, this sculpture is a unique piece celebrating the intrinsic beauty of natural forms through a refined design and high-quality craftsmanship. It is not merely a decorative object, but a fragment of natural history transformed into a work of art, destined to enhance a collection or an interior with a touch of originality and culture.
Estimate:$952.37
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Estimate:
$952.37
OCT 27 | 4:00 PM
OCT 23 | 8:00 AM
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Get listed now$1,256.95
Est: $1,160.89
$100
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
