A French Art Deco silver and nautilus shell centrepiece
Georges Falkenberg, Paris circa 1910
A cast mythological sea creature, the whole intricately embossed and chased in high and low relief, the scales in silver-gilt, with fearsome face, mouth opened and teeth bared, elaborate fins and scrolling fronds, its back arched with tail curled overhead, the tailfin clasping an opalescent nautilus shell overhead, the creature surrounded by cascading oak leaves atop choppy cast waves, all resting on a shaped rectangular base, originally a lamp, weight base 20oz.