Pendant with byssus, 20th c.

Pendant with byssus (Houppe en byssus de Pinna, tête métal), early 20th century, Sardinia. MC-Monaco, Musée Océanographique, inventory no. 97 5845 (MS inventory 6).

Byssus beard, in art nouveau setting of gold-coloured metal (probably brass) with blue-green stone, cord, fibres about 7 cm long, partly cut.

At the inauguration of the new Musée Océanographique in Monaco in 1910, Giuseppe Basso-Arnoux was asked by the director, Prof. Jules Richard, to create objects made of sea silk. This pendant was then bought by the museum for 25 francs – together with the other objects (purse, cap). The scientists present at the inauguration were delighted with the unique collection: “…dove destò la più viva ammirazione e l’entusiasmo degli scienziati, per la sottigliezze straordinaria e la delicata morbidezza dei magnifici esemplari tosto acquistati dal Museo stesso, come raccolta veramente unica.”

Angelo Falconi, medical officer of La Maddalena, had supported Basso-Arnoux in his efforts for the production of sea silk: “Il risultato della collaborazione di questi professionisti dotti appassionati e solerti fu un’interessante collezione di artistici lavori in bisso mandata all’inaugurazione del Museo oceanografico di Monaco…” (Zanetti 1964).

So, the pendant probably comes from La Maddalena.