Old red coral on 17th. century guilded base (c. 1660 to 1690 Italy)

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16.00cm high    (  6.30 inches high)

7.00cm ( 2.76 inches)

Cabinets of Curiosities by Patrick Mauries
page 88 -93

Red coral may be formed on any solid surface up to a depth of 800 feet (250m) given the right circumstances. Preferably the sea water needs to be calm, unpolluted, warm and have a fairly high level of salinity. Thus it is generally only found in the waters of the Mediterranean and countries such as Algeria can benefit greatly from reaping its beautiful bounty. It can also be found off the coast of a variety of other countries such as Albania, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Tunisia and Yugoslavia. There are also instances of red coral growing in the Atlantic off Cape Verde and Morocco. Coral has long been prized by humankind for its incredibly beauty and rarity – red coral even more so. It has been used decoratively by kings and pharaohs, treasured as priceless family heirlooms and looked upon as the source of a cure for all sorts of ailments.