Italian 19th Century cameo relief carved seashell

The seashell is carved on its outer surface with a cameo, depicting a seated man drinking from a bottle of wine. The figure is most likely a fisherman, as suggested by the nets and traps in the foreground.

While they existed before this period, it was in the 19th Century that the fashion for carved seashells properly took off. These shells—often large sea snail shells, such as helmet and conch shells—were carved with beautiful low-relief designs, often depicting mythological scenes or bust profile portraits of young women. They were often purchased as souvenirs of travels abroad, or imported as exotic collectable items.