During the bleak winter months, it’s only natural to seek out things that make the beach seem a teensy bit closer. You know — frozen margaritas, Jimmy Buffett, exotic conch figurines.
True, this Herend Conch Shell porcelain figurine ($1010) retails for nearly the cost of a summer share. But, then again, this isn’t your average shell. (Herend is the same porcelain company that created Queen Victoria’s table service at Windsor Castle, FYI.)
Here, inspiration is drawn from an ancient Chinese fish-scale rendering; Herend modified the design in 1858. The motif gained popularity in the United States in the 1940s and ’50s, when veterans brought exotic European designs back home after World War II. Lucky us. Today, the island-blue hue conjures up a tropical retreat, while the proportions mimic a real shell, at 5 inches high. Best of all, you can hear the ocean’s murmur when you (delicately, of course) press it to your ear. Ahh...priceless. Lust after one at Joseph Gann Jewelers (387 Washington Street, 4th Floor, Boston, 617.426.4932, josephgann.com).
