Vintage Style Sterling Silver Abalone Shell
Updated August 18, 2026
| Lot number | 312 |
| Estimate | 100.00 - 200.00 USD |
| Category | Jewelry & Watches |
| Auction | AUGUST AUCTION |
| Date | August 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT |
| Auction house | Big Shanty Auction |
| Location | Marietta, Georgia |
A vintage novelty decorative trinket dish or ash receiver in the manner of Mario Buccellati, utilizing a natural abalone shell. The shell showcases a highly iridescent interior with deep blues, vibrant greens, purples, and pinks, alongside its characteristic row of respiratory pores. The undulating outer rim of the shell is enveloped in a custom-fitted, heavily textured border of sterling silver (unmarked but testing as sterling). Executed in the iconic Italian "Buccellati style," the metal edge features a meticulously detailed, hand-hammered, and chased organic texture that seamlessly mimics the natural, rugged contours of a sea shell's lip. The dish is in very good vintage condition. The natural abalone interior remains glossy, vibrant, and free of notable cracks or deep scratches. The sterling silver edge shows some minor surface wear, light scuffs, and areas of natural tarnish, particularly along the underside crevices where the metal meets the shell. Measures 2"H x 6"W x 4"D.
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