Furniture & Works of Art - 8th July 2008

Lot 431

A coco de mer

Estimate £300 - £500 | Hammer £500

+ Buyers Premium

Description

A coco de mer, with nut enclosed, 11in (28cm) h, 10in (25.5cm) w., and three worked examples, as cutlery trays and a mounted vase. (4) Also known as a sea coconut, double coconut and Seychelles nut the coco de mer produces the largest seed in the world and is only found on two of the islands that make up the Seychelles. Until 1768 sailors believed these nuts grew on mythical trees at the bottom of the sea.