Two North Italian Late Renaissance Bronze Models of Crabs

Period: 1500-1700

Origin: Italy

Medium: Bronze

Literature: These two bronze models of crabs were cast from nature and were made in imitation of earlier antiquities. The details of the claws and shell are faithfully rendered to replicate a live crab just plucked from the sea. These models were very popular over a long period of time especially because of their association with the astrological sign of Cancer.