Large Red Echinus esculentus test A Perfectly Preserved...

Perfect fivefold symmetry and natural coloration from Cornwall — This lot presents a magnificent specimen of a sea urchin shell, or "test", of the species *Echinus esculentus*, commonly known as the edible European sea urchin. The specimen, from the waters of Cornwall, stands out for its remarkable size and exceptional preservation, which highlight its complex biological architecture and vivid natural coloration. Looking at the object, one immediately appreciates its almost perfectly globular shape, a masterpiece of natural engineering. The surface is an intricate mosaic of fused calcareous plates, adorned with a distinctive hue that alternates brick-red bands with lighter, cream-white bands. This arrangement follows a strict pentaradial symmetry, the hallmark of echinoderms, clearly visible in the star-shaped arrangement of the five ambulacral zones. The entire surface is dotted with countless small tubercles, the spherical bases on which the spines articulated when the animal was alive. The top view reveals the smallest opening of the apical system (periproct), while the base shows the widest opening of the peristome, which housed the mouth apparatus known as the "Aristotle's lantern". Every detail of this shell tells the biology of a fascinating marine organism. The plates are chiefly composed of calcite, making this shell an example of bio-crystallization. The rows of pores traversing the ambulacral areas served for the passage of the podium ambulacra, hydraulic structures the animal used to move, breathe and perceive its environment. In addition to its undeniable scientific and educational interest, this specimen holds strong aesthetic and collecting value. Objects like this were a fundamental element in Wunderkammern, the Renaissance and Baroque “cabinets of curiosities,” where they were displayed alongside minerals, fossils and exotic artifacts to represent the diversity of the natural world. Today, a *Echinus esculentus* shell of such quality and size is a sophisticated decorative element, capable of enriching a study, a library, or a contemporary interior design setting with a touch of organic elegance and a nod to natural history. Technical details Name: Sea Urchin Shell (Echinus esculentus) Classification: Echinoidea, Echinidae Provenance: Cornwall, United Kingdom Dimensions: 85 x 116 x 116 mm Weight: 77 g Condition: Natural, excellent preservation, professionally cleaned.

Estimate:£126.92

View all items fromCatawikiorEthnographical