Shell-Encrusted Bust in Farrow & Ball “Calluna”

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Shell-Encrusted Bust in Farrow & Ball “Calluna” with Hidden Candle
Holders.

By May River Neptune.

A singular sculptural bust, finished … Read more Shell-Encrusted Bust in Farrow & Ball “Calluna” with Hidden Candle
Holders.

By May River Neptune.

A singular sculptural bust, finished in the nuanced Farrow & Ball shade Calluna (lavender-gray color), and transformed into an evocative work of assemblage art. The surface is richly adorned with a curated crown of natural shells in soft coastal tones.

It is a perfect piece for a collected cabinet-of-curiosities. Both surreal and elegant, the composition suggests a dreamlike fusion of oceanic materiality and antique craftsmanship.

Designed to be displayed as a standalone statement sculpture or used as an elevated candleholder. Three grey taper candles are included and rest in discreet hidden metal holders. This piece can be used with or without candles.

Nancy Campbell Ashley—known to friends and collectors as Fancy—is the artist behind May River Neptune, creating one-of-a-kind shell-encrusted sculptural works inspired by the Southern coastline. Raised in Charleston, South Carolina, her lifelong connection to the sea began with childhood summers spent gathering shells along Sullivan’s Island and Edisto Beach.

With a background in art history and high-end interior design, Fancy brings a curator’s eye and a storyteller’s sensibility to each piece. Working from her cottage studio on the May River in Bluffton, SC, she creates assemblage objects that blend coastal memory, antiquarian detail, and timeless craftsmanship—celebrating the beauty of imperfection through natural materials.

Nancy takes commissions for busts, chandeliers, furniture, boxes etc... Some of the pieces can be seen in Tapleys Mercantile - Savior of Style Booth, Savannah, GA and at J. Banks, Hilton Head, SC.

Dimensions:
• Bust height (without candles): approx. 9”
• Total height with 5.25” candles: approx. 11.75”

A striking, gallery-worthy objet d’art—where coastal texture meets antiquarian intrigue See less