Massive Cretaceous Cleoniceras Ammonite A Striking...

Monumental-sized collection specimen: 47 cm — This lot features a monumental fossil ammonite specimen of the genus Cleoniceras, coming from the famous Cretaceous deposits of Madagascar. With a maximum diameter of 47 cm and a weight of over 17 kg, this piece is not merely a fossil, but a true natural sculpture, testimony to a world submerged 110 million years ago. The surface has been expertly sectioned and mirror-polished to reveal the extraordinary internal anatomy, transforming a scientific find into an object of rare aesthetic beauty. Direct observation allows one to appreciate the perfect logarithmic spiral of the shell, a masterpiece of biological engineering. The polishing has brought out an astonishing color palette: the inner chambers, once empty and used by the animal to regulate buoyancy, have filled over millennia with mineral deposits. Calcite and aragonite have crystallized in warm orange, ochre, and brown tones, creating a vibrant contrast with the gray and beige of the surrounding rock matrix, forming a natural mosaic of striking visual impact. Scientifically, the specimen is of notable interest. The suture lines, which mark the contact between the walls of the chambers (the septa) and the outer shell wall, are exceptionally well preserved and visible. Their intricate pattern, resembling lace or a fern, is a diagnostic feature of the genus Cleoniceras and testifies to the evolutionary degree of these cephalopods. This fossil offers a direct window into the mineralization and permineralization processes that have allowed its preservation to the present day. Originating from the Albian, a stage of the Cretaceous, this fossil is the result of a long process that began with the death of the animal and its burial on the sea floor. The skill of Malagasy artisans, renowned for working these specimens, is evident in the quality of the section and polishing, an intervention that does not alter the nature of the fossil but reveals its hidden beauty, making it accessible to the human eye. Each crack and color variation tells a part of its very long geological history. For its imposing size and aesthetic quality, this piece transcends mere collecting interest to become an object of absolute prestige in interior furnishings. It is an item that speaks to any type of interior, from classic to contemporary, ideal for a library, a study, or as a focal point in a modern Wunderkammer. Owning an ammonite of this size means guarding a tangible fragment of the deep history of our planet, a work of art carved by time itself.

Stima:€3,600

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