Curiosity Item - Gorgon Mounted On A Swedish Porphyry Base

- Gorgonian mounted on a Swedish porphyry base

- This gorgonian mounted on a base delights the eye as much as it piques one’s curiosity. While its many sinuous branches form a highly decorative fan-like pattern, the organic shape it creates prompts us to wonder about the nature of this species. Furthermore, a closer look at this marine species reminds us of the preciousness of the ocean floor.

- The presentation on a base—especially one made of marble—emphasizes this preciousness, much like a reference to the naturalia that art lovers collected in their Kunst und Wunderkammern (chambers of art and wonders), studioli, or cabinets of curiosities. These private spaces, prized by collectors, emerged in the late 15th century, a time when certain humanist scholars and ecclesiastical dignitaries began assembling rich collections of rare and strange objects that they kept in small rooms. The various categories of objects included in such a collection reflected the breadth of divine creation: naturalia from the three kingdoms of nature (animal, plant, and mineral), and artificialia created or modified by humans (for example: weapons, musical instruments, gold and silverware, hardstone vases, jewelry, and measuring instruments related to the study of the stars...).

- Dimensions - height: 26.5 cm