Circle of Antoine Berjon

Sotheby's, London, 16 July 1980, lot 68 (as Antoine Berjon)

Painted on a single flat stable piece of zinc. The paint surface is in good overall condition with a localised spidery craquelure visible in the darker pigments upper centre, centre left and lower right and there are four minor superficial surface scratches visible only on very close inspection in the top of the cowrie shell in the centre, in the background centre left, the table lower centre and to the plate edge lower left. There is also some very minor frame abrasion lower right. Examination under ultraviolet reveals a milky varnish which impedes inspection but there appears to have been an old campaign of cosmetic retouching to the background. Offered in a gilt wood frame with a walnut inlay in good overall condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The sixteen sea shells are mainly of Indo-Pacific genus and include (from left to right), cymbium cucumis, turritella ungulina, amoria molleri, murex rectirostris and (behind it) hexaplex erythrostoma, cyprea tigris, lambis scorpius, chlamis palliam, conus pennaceus and tonna allium.