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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ethnographic / Colorful Sea Urchin Exoskeletons with Contrasting...
Inspiration Wunderkammer for a Sophisticated Collecting — A vertical sculpture of considerable dramatic impact, conceived as a contemporary homage to the aesthetics of Wunderkammern, the famous cabinets of curiosities. This work masterfully assembles natural and artificial elements, creating a tower made of authentic sea urchin exoskeletons, elegantly interspersed with turned brass spacers and mounted on a solid black lacquered wood base. The ensemble constitutes a piece of great refinement, a bridge between marine biology and decorative art. The composition develops along a vertical axis that rhythmically alternates six sea urchin exoskeletons of different sizes and colors. Larger specimens stand out, characterized by a warm orange-pink hue with lighter radial bands, and smaller spines of a delicate lavender color. The surface of each shell is a masterpiece of natural architecture, finely punctuated by tubercles where the spines once articulated, and designed with perfect pentameric symmetry. To separate and enhance each natural element, solid brass components are inserted, whose glossy golden finish creates a sophisticated contrast with the matte, porous texture of the shells. The exoskeletons, known in biology as "tests" or "shells" are the calcified structures that protect the organism of the sea urchin. Composed mainly of calcium carbonate, these skeletons are formed by plates fused together that grow according to a radial symmetry pattern typical of echinoderms. The delicate color shades visible on the specimens are entirely natural, determined by the pigments specific to the species and by the environmental conditions in which the animal lived. Their preservation in this sculpture allows a close viewing of one of the most fascinating and geometrically complex forms produced by the natural world. The work deliberately places itself in the tradition of collecting rooms, Wunderkammern, born in Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. In these private spaces, collectors gathered naturalia (objects from the natural world), artificialia (human creations) and scientifica (scientific instruments). This tower is a perfect synthesis of that spirit: the urchins represent the naturalia, 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 value. With its considerable height and slender form, it becomes a focal point in any environment, capable of commanding attention. It is ideal to be displayed on a bookshelf, on a console in an entryway, in a professional studio, or as an accent piece in a living room with both classical and contemporary taste. The dialogue between the organic geometry of the urchins and the strict lines of the base and brass supports creates a visual balance of great elegance. Made in 2025, this sculpture is a unique piece that celebrates the intrinsic beauty of natural forms through 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 adorn a collection or interior with a touch of originality and culture.
Estimate:$963.94
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorEthnographic
Estimate:
$963.94
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East Greenlandic mask of driftwood with strap of seal skin. Tasiilaq.
09/28/2026
$546.51
Est: $547.88
Carved wooden horse. Mounted on iron stand. Southeast Asia. 20th century.
09/28/2026
$159.4
Est: $308.99
