Seascapes and Spectacle: The Fascination for Ambergris During the 16th Century

The smells we grow up with provoke instant comfort and nostalgia for even the most insignificant memories.

This object mobilizes the senses. It is compact but traps infinite and universal olfactory recollections. It is familiar, despite having been created over four centuries ago. Touch and sound are also essential in experiencing this object: the cold metal, the squeaking of the lids. But behind this beautiful, healing trinket lies a darker underbelly, one riddled with fear, anxiety, and death.