Unique large silver & shagreen cuttlefish box

An extraordinary and unique box modelled as a large cuttlefish. The silver body is finely detailed and the form is overlaid with attractive grey/blue shagreen - stingray skin. The removable box cover is surmounted by a cast silver octopus finial, the eyes are tiger's eye semi-precious stones and the tentacles have been formed from exotic root wood.

Shagreen is the skin of a ray or shark with a characteristic rough surface from calcified scales which are commonly ground down to leave the surface with an overall pattern of rounded bumps. Shagreen was first used in Europe by Jean-Claude Galluchat, a leatherworker to King Louis XV of France. The material proved so popular that it had found its way throughout Europe by the mid-18th century.

This large cuttlefish is not available to purchase online. Please get in touch if you would like more information or are interested to buy them