Coco de Mer and Ostrich Egg Box – Antony Redmile

The Coco de Mer Nut Sculptural Box by Antony Redmile is one of the most arresting objects the celebrated London designer ever produced. Fashioned from a rare double-lobed coco de mer nut, the piece pairs the nut’s deep chocolate-brown, warmly polished shell with a richly layered arrangement of silvered mounts. The Coco de Mer is native to the Seychelles and among the most exotic botanical specimens in the natural world. Creamy domed ostrich eggs, cradled in pierced silvered fittings, serve as lids to each chamber. Malachite specimens and oval cabochons punctuate the silver band, while cast resin boar’s teeth tipped with malachite project from either side as handles. A malachite finial crowns each lid. The whole composition rests on an ebonized wooden base with a silvered stand.

Antony Redmile burst into the London interior design scene in the 1960s, producing eclectic and distinctive objects for a devoted clientele. Known for his extravagant designs, Redmile stood out through the use of unusual materials and an eccentric take on classic antiques. His work remains among the most sought-after of the decorative arts of that era.