
May one see it?
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
This bronze was probably cast directly from a real crab. The body was covered in clay and fired in a kiln. It was completely burnt in the process, leaving space in the clay mould for liquid bronze to be poured in and allowed to cool, providing an exact replica of the crab. It is thought to date from the nineteenth century and to be based on the design by Nicholas Sprimont for a pair of salt cellars in the Royal Collection, made for Frederick, Prince of Wales in 1742-3.
Victoria and Albert Museum