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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ancient Art / Sectioned Cleoniceras Ammonite Pair with Polished...
Fascinating Fossilized Ammonite on Base — This exceptional lot features a pair of ammonites from the Cleoniceras genus, cut and polished to reveal their complex internal anatomy. Originating from the rich fossil beds of Madagascar, these specimens date back to the Cretaceous, about 110 million years ago. The two halves, recovered from a single fossil, are mounted on an elegant wooden base, creating a symmetrical display that serves as a high-value paperweight or as a natural history sculpture. The act of cutting and polishing is not a mere finish, but an act that unveils a hidden world, transforming a paleontological specimen into a geological art piece. Careful observation of the glossy surfaces allows one to appreciate the perfection of the logarithmic spiral, one of nature’s most iconic forms. The internal chambers, once used by the cephalopod to regulate buoyancy, were filled over millions of years by mineral depositions. Warm and vibrant tones can be admired: amber, orange, and cream of calcite and aragonite contrast magnificently with the darker, earthier hues of the surrounding rock matrix. The fine sutural lines, which draw fern-like patterns, testify to the biological complexity of these extinct creatures and separate the various chambers, many of which display suggestive druse crystallizations that sparkle in the light. The fossilization process of these ammonites is a testament to Earth's dynamics. After death, the shells settled on the seabed and were quickly buried by clayey sediments, which protected them from decomposition. Through geological eras, mineral-rich water filtered through the sediments, dissolving the original aragonite shell and replacing it, molecule by molecule, with more stable minerals like calcite. The hollow chambers became small geodes, cavities where crystals had time and space to grow undisturbed, creating the mineral mosaics we can admire today. This specimen is therefore a time capsule, preserving the anatomy of a living being and the chronicle of the geological processes that transformed it. As a collectible and decorative object, this pair of ammonites possesses a multifaceted charm. For the natural history enthusiast, it represents a paleontological find of great quality, a tangible fragment of the Age of Dinosaurs. For interior designers and design lovers, it is a sculptural element of rare elegance, capable of enriching a library, a study, or a sideboard with a touch of intellectual refinement. Its symmetry and warm colors make it a focal point in any environment, evoking the allure of ancient Wunderkammern, or cabinets of curiosities, where science and wonder fused. Its dual function as a paperweight unites aesthetics with practicality, making it an object as beautiful as it is useful.
Estimate:£466.53
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorAncient Art
Estimate:
£466.53
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
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