HippocampeMonstrance202414" x 19" x 30"Mixed media (Click for details)
Seahorses, with their remarkable curled prehensile tails and equine features, are actually small bony-armored fish. Beloved creatures for their magical appearance, they belong to the genus Hippocampus; from Ancient Greek, hippos meaning "horse", kampos meaning "sea monster". Fossil records of seahorses date back as far as 13 million years ago. Seahorses have a unique evolutionary adaptation - it is the male that carries the young during pregnancy.
The shallow salt water ecosystems across the world that make up the primary habitats for seahorses (sea grass beds, estuaries, mangroves, and coral reefs) are particularly sensitive to the changes in sea level, pH, and water temperature associated with global climate change. Coupled with other human-related stresses on coastal environments, the long term future for these delicate creatures remains an ongoing concern. Many species of seahorses are already in decline.
The monstrance made to shelter this seahorse echoes the traditional display vessels often seen in a prominent position on the altar of a Catholic, Lutheran, or Anglican church. Enclosing a venerated object behind rock crystal lenses, the breathtaking monstrances created by artisans from the Renaissance were the height of the goldsmith's craft - richly adorned with gold, silver, ebony, precious gems, and enamel. The stylized sun rays surrounding the central niche of "solar" monstrances are thought to represent a "divine light" illuminating the object within the chamber.
The antique filigree silver and seahorse specimen for this piece were purchased in a Paris flea market.
Seahorses, with their remarkable curled prehensile tails and equine features, are actually small bony-armored fish. Beloved creatures for their magical appearance, they belong to the genus Hippocampus; from Ancient Greek, hippos meaning "horse", kampos meaning "sea monster". Fossil records of seahorses date back as far as 13 million years ago. Seahorses have a unique evolutionary adaptation - it is the male that carries the young during pregnancy.
The shallow salt water ecosystems across the world that make up the primary habitats for seahorses (sea grass beds, estuaries, mangroves, and coral reefs) are particularly sensitive to the changes in sea level, pH, and water temperature associated with global climate change. Coupled with other human-related stresses on coastal environments, the long term future for these delicate creatures remains an ongoing concern. Many species of seahorses are already in decline.
The monstrance made to shelter this seahorse echoes the traditional display vessels often seen in a prominent position on the altar of a Catholic, Lutheran, or Anglican church. Enclosing a venerated object behind rock crystal lenses, the breathtaking monstrances created by artisans from the Renaissance were the height of the goldsmith's craft - richly adorned with gold, silver, ebony, precious gems, and enamel. The stylized sun rays surrounding the central niche of "solar" monstrances are thought to represent a "divine light" illuminating the object within the chamber.
The antique filigree silver and seahorse specimen for this piece were purchased in a Paris flea market.
