Coral cabinet, Schloss Ambras

This sparkling grotto of seashells, corals and a nautilus shell is a typical arrangement of the early baroque period. As a theatrical peep box panorama, it is the kind of item popular it art chambers. It can be considered a model for princely chambers of art and wonders in two ways: on the one hand, it brings together pagan, profane and Christian elements (venus procession and cross, coral as a symbol for the three kingsoms of nature), on the other, it can be seen as a miniature version of the chamber of wonders surrounding it, of which it is in turn an element.

Unknown artist, Kabinettschrank aus Korallen: Korallenkabinett (coral cabinet), mixed media, 66 x 55 x 56.2 cm, ca. 1550-1599; source: © Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Sammlungen Schloss Ambras, Inv.-Nr. AM_PA_961, https://www.khm.at/de/object/504897/.