This bowl is by contemporary artist Barton Lidice Benes. Typical of Benes late 1970’s work, the bowl is composed of hundreds of sea shells in a matrix of his own making. Known as a master of “found” elements in his work, the shells are arranged in a pleasing pattern. The “wings” on the face of the central image are tiny iridescent shells. The iconography comes from tombstones and momento mori images of colonial times. The bowl, which is 5” high, 8 ½” long and 14 ¾” wide is in great condition with the exception of two partially broken shells.