Friday, October 14, 2016

Sea Shell Proofs by Wenceslaus Hollar

Wenceslaus Hollar
Pink Conch
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

The British Museum owns a portfolio of thirty-nine proof etchings made around 1646 by Wenceslaus Hollar. These depict individual sea shells and are unique copies, never published. Curators speculate that Hollar was involved in production of illustrations for a natural history book that never in fact materialized.

Wenceslaus Hollar
Horned Helmet Shell
 ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Venus's Comb Murex
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Giant Baler
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Screw Shells 
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Imperial Cone
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Australian Trumpet 
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Papal Mitre Shell
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
 Short-spined Murex 
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Chambered Nautilus
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Spinning-Top Shell
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Tiger Cowrie
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Bear-Paw Clam 
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

Wenceslaus Hollar
Dark-mouthed Tibia
ca. 1646
etching
British Museum

I am grateful to the British Museum for the excellent reproductions.