Fluted Bowl with Jewelled Base n.d.

Giuseppe Grisoni rendered this fluted bowl with jewelled base in pen and watercolor. The bowl's fluted design resonates with the ancient motif of the scallop shell, a symbol deeply embedded in cultural memory. From antiquity, the scallop shell was associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, often depicted emerging from a giant scallop. Pilgrims in the Middle Ages wore scallop shells as badges, signifying their journey to sacred sites. The shell transcended religious contexts, becoming a ubiquitous symbol of travel and transformation. In Grisoni’s rendering, the scallop motif is elevated through the jeweled base, connoting wealth and luxury. This adaptation reveals the motif's ability to resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings. This isn't merely a bowl; it's a vessel carrying centuries of symbolic weight.