This beautiful sterling silver centrepiece is by the Italian silversmith Pradella Ilario, who created the piece for the Milanese firm Buccellati. The work, which is known as Nautilus, features six silver nautilus shells, which are set amongst various seashells and raised on a base of clam shells. The shells are wonderfully crafted, each with perfectly plausible naturalistic detailing.
The underside is marked 'Buccellati / Italy / Sterling' and '* 26 MI' for the silversmith Pradella Ilario, Milan.