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A fossilised poterion potera (Neptune’s Cup sponge).
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A fossilised poterion potera (Neptune’s Cup sponge).
Museum number: S40
On display: Study
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
Incongruously placed amongst the Roman fragments which belonged to Soane’s early teacher Henry Holland is the curious natural form of a Neptune’s cup sponge, lying horizontally on the shelf across the window of the Study. Soane was intrigued by its form but did not know what it was – he commented in his 1835 Description of this house that A large fungus from the rocks of the island of Sumatra …will be appreciated by the lovers of natural history.
Also in Soane's collection is a copy by Thomas Hardwick (1821) of a detailed drawing made for the Linnean Society two years earlier of another sponge, this time a Spongia Patera from Singapore (SM 59/13/8).
Also in Soane's collection is a copy by Thomas Hardwick (1821) of a detailed drawing made for the Linnean Society two years earlier of another sponge, this time a Spongia Patera from Singapore (SM 59/13/8).
Soane collections online is being continually updated. If you wish to find out more or if you have any further information about this object please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk