Italian Large Silvered Sea Sponge

A sea sponge, silvered inside, and set up as if it were a goblet.

This large silvered sea sponge comes from Italy and is contemporary, set on a wood base. It was made purely for display, in the spirit of the cabinets of curiosities where European collectors once showed mounted natural wonders to their guests. The outside is rough, tan and deeply pitted, a surface nobody could have invented. The hollow inside shines with brushed silver, and a turned black base with silver bands lifts it high. Just over twenty inches high.

Nature made the odd part. Somebody else supplied the manners.