This is a beautiful Antique French Shell and meerschaum font circa 1800s. This is a beautifully ornate piece with a meerschaum Jesus on a wooden cross mounted on tan/brown velvet under domed glass. The exterior frame is wooden, and at the bottom, there is a large sea shell mounted to it. The back is papered in black and there is a small ring for hanging at the top. This is all original, and other than cleaning the front glass, I have done nothing to it. Given its age, it is in EXCELLENT condition. This piece measures 11" x 6.75".
There has been some discussion between the dealer and myself regarding the material used to make this piece. I feel that it is "meerschaum" which is a soft white claylike material consisting of hydrated magnesium and a silicate. However the French dealer calls it "kaolin" which is is a hydrated aluminum silicate crystalline mineral formed over many millions of years by the hydrothermal decomposition of granite rocks. I have a feeling we are talking about the same thing but I thought it best to share as many details as possible.
Please email me with questions.
Any glare in our pictures is from our chandelier.
