Model of a palace with shells, Italy, late 19th century

- The work presented, of Italian origin from the end of the 19th century, is a wooden model of a palace with a two-level elevation; a first level with arcades then a level consisting of a balustraded loggia. The surprise created by this model lies in the richness, preciousness and fragility of its exterior decoration entirely composed of shells, but also in its interior decoration which is not to be outdone.

- The exterior decor is intriguing with its originality and the profusion of details with this multitude of shells. This facade decoration was skillfully composed and produced with extraordinary attention to detail, thus achieving a rigorously symmetrical composition. Designed with great attention to detail, this decoration reflects long hours of work to select the shells according to their caliber/color and place them one by one. Assembled to represent decorative motifs or figurative elements (birds, flowers), shells are omnipresent. In addition, we can highlight the work done on the colors to offer gradients and achieve this colorful harmony so pleasant to the eye; pastel colors (powder pink, almond green, etc.) or more assertive, very joyful contrasts (on the side faces of white and red patterns on a royal blue background, green juxtaposed with orange and yellow). Particular attention was also paid to the backgrounds made textured using sand.

- For the interior, likewise, we observe great attention to detail in order to transcribe a sumptuous interior. The richness of the latter, through its colors and materials, can be contemplated by observing the floors imitating a pavement, the wall decorations (wallpaper, faux columns, golden braid as luxurious cornices, ceilings with polychrome moldings), the silky textiles ( sheers, curtains, stretched ceiling).

- Upstairs, in the center, a human presence; on a platform covered in red damask, a richly dressed man sits in a gilded wooden armchair whose armrests are in the shape of a swan (movable character and armchair). A semblance of life is also breathed into this palace through its openings, these being decorated with doors that are sometimes ajar and sometimes wide open.

- The rear of the building has been left as is. Red tinted glass was placed upstairs to complement the stage and the character. The palate rests on a table with sheathed legs and provided with holes to facilitate movement. The materials used for the structure of the palace are wood and cardboard. A removable glass display case designed for this work is attached.

-Good state of conservation, some gaps should be noted.

- Dimensions of the model:
Height: 90.5 cm width: 75 cm depth: 51.5 cm
Table dimensions:
Height: 68.5 cm width: 85.5 cm depth: 58.5 cm

Ref: N7DD1INQ1D