Vintage Shell Bonsai Tree Sculpture MCM Copper Wire Art Carved Gemstone Base
£75.00
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Vintage Shell Bonsai Tree Sculpture MCM Copper Wire Art Carved Gemstone Base
£75.00
Item Overview
- Type: Vintage Hand-Twisted Wire Bonsai Tree / Mid-Century Shell Sculpture
- Designer: Traditional Artisan Craft / Folk Art Export Piece
- Brand: Unbranded Vintage Craftsmanship
- Manufacturer: Studio Crafted (Often imported from East Asia or the Philippines)
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Place of Origin: East Asia / Philippines (Baguio Studio Crafted Artisan Work)
- Style: Mid-Century Modern / Coastal Boho / Hollywood Regency Desk Decor
- Colour: Iridescent Pearl White, Deep Copper Brown, and Natural Mineral Green
- Design Era: Mid-Century Modern (Circa 1960s / 1970s)
- Material: Carved Sea Shell (Mother of Pearl style), Twisted Copper Wire, and Raw Mineral Rock Matrix
- Set Includes: One (1) Standalone Mixed-Media Sculptural Tree
- Features: Hand-Twisted Branches, Drill-Set Segmented Leaves, Raw Natural Specimen Stone Base
- Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition with Fine Natural Ageing
- Size and Capacity: Generous display profile standing at approximately 10 Inches (25.4 cm) Tall (Check gallery images to confirm scale)
Dating & Historical Context
- Dating: This charming decorative sculpture represents authentic mid-century folk art, routinely produced during the global decor boom of the 1960s and 1970s.
- Historical Note: These meticulously crafted botanical models were highly popular high-end tourist exports, famously originating from mountain artisan hubs like Baguio in the Philippines, as well as specialised lapidary workshops across Hong Kong and Taiwan. The roots, trunks, and branches are made of copper wire, while the foliage consists of natural sea shells with drilled holes anchored to a heavy mineral base. Rather than using mass-moulded plastic or glass, the maker selected natural marine shells, carving them into delicate, lanceolate leaves that catch the light with an iridescent, pearlescent glow. The trunk is rooted directly onto a substantial, uncut mineral matrix—frequently utilising raw green serpentine, soapstone, or fluorite deposits to ground the piece with organic texture.
Description
A beautifully preserved specimen of mid-century lapidary folk art, this hand-twisted copper wire bonsai tree brings a sense of serene organic structure to any curated space. Standing at a substantial 10 Inches (25.4 cm) tall, it offers an imposing yet delicate presence on a mantlepiece, sideboard, or study desk. Each branch is hand-wound from heavy-gauge copper wire that has developed a warm, dark, historic patina over decades. The foliage consists of dozens of separately carved sea shell segments, drilled and wired into dense, cascading clusters that capture the asymmetrical silhouette of a traditional Japanese bonsai tree.
A beautifully preserved specimen of mid-century lapidary folk art, this hand-twisted copper wire bonsai tree brings a sense of serene organic structure to any curated space. Standing at a substantial 10 Inches (25.4 cm) tall, it offers an imposing yet delicate presence on a mantlepiece, sideboard, or study desk. Each branch is hand-wound from heavy-gauge copper wire that has developed a warm, dark, historic patina over decades. The foliage consists of dozens of separately carved sea shell segments, drilled and wired into dense, cascading clusters that capture the asymmetrical silhouette of a traditional Japanese bonsai tree.
Expert Identification & Design Features:
- Iridescent Shell Foliage: The leaves are carved from natural marine bivalves, showcasing a gorgeous creamy-white tone that reveals a subtle, shifting mother-of-pearl lustre when illuminated.
- Lapidary Specimen Base: The heavy base features an uncut, structurally raw mineral specimen with an attractive mint-to-sage green coloration, providing stability and a magnificent geologic contrast to the wirework.
- Artisanal Wirework: The roots split realistically over the contours of the stone matrix, rising into a dense trunk that divides smoothly into manageable, adjustable boughs.
Condition Report
This sculpture is in exceptional vintage condition, showing minimal signs of handling and retaining its full structural integrity. The hand-twisted copper wires remain firm and hold their shape beautifully, with no major breaks or structural fraying. The carved shell leaves are remarkably complete; they show no major chipping or crushing across the foliage. The natural mineral base is structurally solid, free from cracks or unstable fractures, displaying only the organic clefts and textures inherent to the raw specimen. (Please check the detailed gallery images with the vintage folding rule to confirm scale and view the natural variations).
This sculpture is in exceptional vintage condition, showing minimal signs of handling and retaining its full structural integrity. The hand-twisted copper wires remain firm and hold their shape beautifully, with no major breaks or structural fraying. The carved shell leaves are remarkably complete; they show no major chipping or crushing across the foliage. The natural mineral base is structurally solid, free from cracks or unstable fractures, displaying only the organic clefts and textures inherent to the raw specimen. (Please check the detailed gallery images with the vintage folding rule to confirm scale and view the natural variations).
Shipping & Logistics
- Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.
- Packaging: Double-wrapped inside high-density bubble cushioning, with additional tissue supports around the delicate wire boughs, and shipped in a rigid container to protect the fragile shell tips during transit.
- Dispatch: Order before 12.00pm and we ship same day.
Returns & Payment Policies
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
- Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our listing, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.
- Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.