Fossil Sea Urchin Plate with Multiple Tripneustes...

A Window onto the Miocene of Provence — We present an extraordinary fossil plate from the famous Lacoste sedimentary formations, in the heart of the Luberon Massif, France. This Miocene find showcases a fascinating association of sea urchins of the species *Tripneustes parkinsoni*, beautifully fossilized in their original sandy matrix. The specimen is enhanced by an elegant white lacquered wooden display base with steel supports, custom-made to transform it into a sophisticated natural history collectible and interior-designe object. The visual composition is striking. The slab, in a delicate ivory color with a finely granulose texture, provides the backdrop for three main echinoid specimens. Their preservation is exceptional: one can admire not only the details of the shell (the test), with its polygonal plates and fine tuberculation, but also a rare profusion of spines (radioles) still in partial anatomical connection. This feature gives the fossil three-dimensional volume and an almost “alive” appearance, immortalizing the organisms in a scene of quiet on the prehistoric seabed. The fossils themselves show a subtle pinkish hue, creating a delicate and refined color contrast with the surrounding rock. The genesis of such a specimen is a fortunate geological event. Millions of years ago, during the Miocene epoch, present-day Provence was submerged under a warm, shallow sea teeming with life. At their death, these urchins settled on the sandy seabed and were buried under layers of sediment in a low-energy environment, as evidenced by the preservation of the spines. This rapid burial protected them from decomposition and dispersion, triggering the fossilization by mineralization, which replaced organic molecules with calcite, faithfully replicating every detail. The Luberon Massif is a world-renowned paleontological site, and the fossils from there are sought after by collectors worldwide. Extraction and, especially, the preparation of a slab of this quality require considerable artisanal skill. The preparator’s job is to patiently remove, with micro-tools, the excess rock to free the delicate fossil structures without damaging them. The result is a “clean” specimen that fully allows appreciation of the scientific and aesthetic beauty of the organisms. This specimen represents the perfect union between scientific documentation and a natural artwork. For the collector, it is a tangible testimony of a vanished marine ecosystem; for the interior designer, it is a natural sculpture whose neutral color palette and organic forms harmoniously integrate into studies, libraries, or contemporary living spaces. Its display on a base elevates it to a showpiece, worthy of a modern Wunderkammer or a gallery of art. Technical details Name: Fossil Plate with *Tripneustes parkinsoni* Classification: Echinoidea, *Tripneustes parkinsoni* Provenance: France, Provence-Alpes-C Côte d’Azur Locality: Lacoste, Luberon Massif Geological period: Miocene (about 23–5 million years ago) Plate dimensions: 250 x 230 x 20 mm Plate weight: 3540 g Base: White lacquered wood base with stainless steel supports Conditions: Naturally fossilized and professionally prepared."

Estimate:£1,172.62

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