Marine Life on Recovered Shoe Sole Taxidermy full body mount - Gorgoncea sp

Marine Life Colonizing a Recovered Shoe – White Gorgonian, Pecten Shell & Brittle Star A fascinating marine curiosity formed around a discarded shoe recovered from the seabed, where prolonged immersion allowed it to become a substrate for a small community of marine organisms. The most prominent feature is a branching white gorgonian, which has developed directly from the shoe and extends outward into an intricate, tree-like structure. Its pale branches create a delicate sculptural contrast with the worn and heavily encrusted surface of the original footwear. Inside the shoe, a Pecten valve is still present, naturally lodged within the cavity and adding another clearly recognizable marine element to the composition. A particularly interesting detail is the presence of a small brittle star (Ophiuroidea) attached to one of the gorgonian branches. Its tiny body and slender arms are easy to overlook at first glance, making it a rewarding natural-history detail within the specimen. The shoe itself remains clearly identifiable, with the sole pattern, original construction and areas of marine wear still visible beneath sediment, encrustations and biological growth. The contrast between the man-made object and the organisms that subsequently colonized it gives the piece a strong conceptual and documentary character. The specimen is mounted vertically on a black metal stand, allowing the gorgonian, internal cavity and attached marine life to be viewed from multiple angles. Shoe dimensions: 23 × 10 × 8 cm Maximum height on stand: 36 cm A unique marine assemblage and cabinet-of-curiosities object, documenting how artificial materials can become incorporated into the marine environment and transformed into habitat over time.

Estimate:£126.92

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