MASSIVE 14 + INCH WIDE BY 9 INCH TALL CLAM SHELL WITH A PEARL INSIDE.
THERE ARE A FEW FLAWS, NONE OF WHICH I WAS ABLE TO FIND WITHOUT A MAGNIFYING GLASS OR USE OF FINGERTIPS, AND THEY WERE FOUND BY RUBBING MY FINGERTIPS ACROSS ALL EDGES.
1- THERE IS ONE SMALL SPOT WITH A FEW BLACK CARBON DOTS ON THE EDGE OF THE SHELL (PHOTO 16).
2- AND A FEW SMALL DOTS ON THE PEARL ALSO (PHOTO 17 & 21). It was very hard to get my camera to focus on the opalescent finish of the pearl. Please follow the arrow point in (PHOTO 21).
3- THERE IS A ONE INCH LONG EDGETHAT WAS GROUND AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE WORK. AS THE PRIOR OWNER NEVER LET THIS OUT OF HER POSSESSION, IT WAS CLEARLY DONE DURING OR AFTER THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BUT BEFORE IT WAS SOLD. (PHOTO 18, 19,20) SHOW THAT ONE EDGE WAS GROUND DOWN SLIGHTLY. MAYBE THERE WERE TOO MANY CARBON DOTS OR MAYBE THERE WAS ANOTHER FLAW BUT ONCE YOU TOUCH BLOWN GLASS WITH A GRINDING TOOL, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FEEL THE VARIATION IN TEXTURE. THIS WAS EXTREMELY WELL DONE, NOT DONE BY GRANDPA IN THE BASEMENT, BUT IT IS AN ALTERATION AND NEEDS TO BE POINTED OUT. I OWNED THIS FOR 10 YEARS AND NEVER NOTICED IT. When I decided to list it I had to really get down to the nitty gritty of feeling every edge. IN (PHOTO 20), THE GROUND EDGE IS BETWEEN THE TWO ARROWS
The shell has two polished pontils so that the shell can either face straight up, or it can face at an angle. The photos here show the shell standing in both positions. The polished pontils at the bottom show only the lightest of scratches.
I found no chips, deep scratches or impact marks. There is a small bubble in the inside of the open shell
The pearl is not perfectly round but then real pearls aren't either. There are a few shape imperfections and the carbon dots.
The carbon dots (inclusions) reflect proof that the item was hand blown and most of the largest pieces, even the best ones, have a few.
WITHOUT PACKAGING, THE GLASS EXCEEDS ELEVEN POUNDS SO THIS WILL NOT BE A CHEAP SHIPMENT, UNLESS YOU LIVE ON OR NEAR THE EAST COAST. No flat rate box will work and this will have to be double boxed. If you are on the West Coast, you will need to use Parcel Select or pay quite a bit.
PLEASE USE ZOOM FUNCTION ON ALL PHOTOS.
Vintage mid-century Archimede Seguso Murano Italian Art Glass Clam Shell Sculpture with Pearl. The piece has no labels and identification is based on online listings and a collection of Seguso pieces.
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