Lot 716
  • 716

TWO VERY RARE CHELSEA SHELL-FORM SALTS CIRCA 1755-58

bidding is closed

Description

  • width 4 3/8 in. (11.1cm)
each modelled as a shell, its edge shaded in puce, supported upon the back of a scaly green dolphin and another smaller fish on a low rocky base molded and applied with further smaller shells, red anchor marks. Minor haircrack, minor restoration.

Catalogue Note

The present salts almost certainly owe the inspiration for their design to silver originals. Two salts, one similarly enamelled and modelled with a dolphin, the other with a crayfish, were sold at Sotheby's, London, November 11, 1966, lot 145, and a somewhat related bough pot, molded with three similar dolphins, was sold in these rooms, October 11, 1995, lot 356.