Shell, possibly a Bursa rubeta, from the wreck of the Dutch East India ship Witte Leeuw before 1613

Editor: We’re looking at a shell, thought to possibly be a Bursa rubeta, recovered from the wreck of the Witte Leeuw. It dates from before 1613 and now resides at the Rijksmuseum. The texture is surprisingly complex. It is interesting that a found object is being classified as a sculpture. What do you make of the shape and form? Curator: The power of this piece resides in its materiality. We're presented with a natural object elevated to the status of art. Examine the spiral form; note the way the ridges articulate a sense of growth and dynamism frozen in time. Consider how the texture and pattern give us a tangible sense of the shell's history. Its whiteness is broken by small dark inclusions. What effect do these inclusions have? Editor: They add a sense of age, a feeling of weathering, almost like brushstrokes, actually. Curator: Precisely. These subtle details, along with the pronounced ridges, establish a clear contrast between smooth, flowing lines and jagged edges. The shell also demands a consideration of negative space. The openings and shadows are essential parts of the sculpture. It prompts one to contemplate natural form. How does this object transcend mere representation and evoke a deeper resonance? Editor: Thinking about it only in terms of its lines, shape and space reveals a lot more complexity than initially met the eye! Curator: Agreed. The focus on pure form brings us closer to the sublime inherent in the natural world.