Barroco Baroque

[Pearl-Guide]

I noticed a baroque (barroco) finial between the scrolls at the top
pediment of an 18th century highboy cabinet. It was in the form of a
wave or stylized shell with a smooth kidney shaped nugget centered in its ornate surround. As the Portugese word barroco means irregular pearl do you think the carved finial may depict a pearl? If so, do you know it's symbolic significance or if it is representative of the reign of a
particular monarchy?

 

[Valeria101]

There could be more to it than the religious meaning, but I'd bet that the frequent use of shell-shaped details on church decoration inspired decoration everywhere else while loosing or changing its sense. I suspect that lay representations of shells and pearls would have been nothing more than what sketches of a diamond are today - a little reminder of glamor or the jewelry trade. A pearl in (scallop) shell is an old fashioned lover's charm, and that sounds close to the carving you describe.