Italian silver plated crab-form caviar dish by Franco Lapini

Beautifully crafted from silver plated metal, this textured sculptural work has been expertly and realistically crafted in the form of a crab, with two front pincers and eight legs behind, on which the piece stands. The body of the crab is hinged and opens to reveal a circular caviar dish made from gilt metal. The dish is signed to the underside 'Franco Lapini, ITALY'.

This fine and whimsical piece is typical of the work of Franco Lapini, the celebrated Italian silversmith based in Florence since 1963, who takes inspiration from the tableware that adorned the spectacular Florentine feasts of the 16th Century.