A bouquet in a vase; the flowers and vase are made of finely assembled seashells (with some chips and missing pieces). The piece is displayed under a large glass dome and rests on a rosewood-veneered base (with some missing pieces). Work of a salt worker, mid-19th century. Height: 64 cm - Width: 46 cm Note: Originating in Batz-sur-Mer in the late 17th century to adorn church altars with floral bouquets, this craft of creating shell figurines depicting salt workers gradually lost its religious function and became purely decorative around 1820. It actively contributed to the region’s economic growth until 1880 and also helped spread the image and folk traditions of this community far beyond its borders.