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Ember Claw - Crimson Crab Silhouette

A bright red crab is shown from above in a symmetrical pose, with both claws raised and its legs spread wide against a plain white background. Its shell and claws are filled with a mottled pattern of deep reds, oranges and glints of yellow. Thin white lines outline the plates and joints, and a small crescent shape sits at the center of the lower shell. The result looks like a cross between a tribal tattoo design and a stained-glass panel.

A collector wants this crab because it is a bold, perfectly balanced red silhouette that is not a literal seafood picture. The body is filled with a glowing crimson, orange and amber mirrored pattern, and thin white tribal-style lines cut through it. The result is a flat graphic crab with the depth of a jewel or a stained-glass panel. Most crab art is either realistic or cartoonish. This piece is crisp, symmetrical and decorative, and it reads clearly from across a room.

Artwork by Omaste Witkowski