Pearl Oyster Shell with Glaucus and Scylla

Unknown artist

c. 1670 - c. 1700

mother of pearl

Rijksmuseum

A carved mother-of-pearl shell depicts a merman with a fish tail reaching towards a nude woman and a cherub with a bow and arrow. The scene is set amidst foliage and water. Bellekin transformed nature into art, producing objects perfectly in keeping with the 17th-century concept of a collection of rarities. VOC ships brought back oyster shells from the Indian Ocean, which Bellekin carved with scenes from Greek mythology in low relief: Perseus on his winged horse rescuing Andromeda, and the nymph Scylla reaching out to the sea god Glaucus.