Fossilized Devonian Gyroptychius & Osteolepsis Fish

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Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 7, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-10-07 10:00:00 2021-10-07 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-7537
Museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Northwestern Europe, Scotland, Orkney, Middle Old Red Sandstone Formation, Middle Devonian, ca. 380 million years ago. This large and superb fish fossil from Scotland showcases the finest quality of preservation in a primitive lungfish known scientifically as Gyroptychius agassizi! Included is an associated fish fossil of another species that existed during the period, known as Osteolepis. Gyroptychius fossils of fine quality are scarce, and this choice grade example has exceptional scale articulation and even the delicate caudal fin and thoracic fins are preserved! The black hues of the fossils contrast beautifully with the gray stone matrix as well, and this example exudes truly museum-class perfection - the scale and armor plate detail on both fish must be seen to fully appreciate! This specimen is rare not only for its stunning state of completeness and preservation, but for its size and pose as well! Size of Gyroptychius: 13.25" L (33.7 cm); Osteolepis: 5" L (12.7 cm); matrix: 19" L x 13.25" W (48.3 cm x 33.7 cm)
  
  At a period in time when vertebrates were scarce on Earth and trilobites thrived in enormous varieties and numbers, these fish of the Devonian, graced a freshwater lake in the region that is now Northern Scotland. The Devonian Period is the first era on Earth of fish emerging in the fossil record and Gyroptychius agassizi was a predatory lungfish that lived almost 400 million years ago during this time. Lungfish are air-breathing lobe-finned bony fish that had the capability to breathe air using their modified air bladder consisting of multiple chambers. They possessed odd large ridged tooth-plates designed to crush and chew their prey, and long, slender bodies covered with armored plates, diagonal rows of thick scales made up of a cosmine layer and a thin shiny ganoine layer, and a bizarre rhomboid-shaped caudal fin.
  
  The Old Red Sandstone layers of Northern Scotland are one of three of the world's most scientifically important and richest deposits yielding fossilized fish from the Devonian period; the other two sites are at Canowindra in New South Wales and Miguasha in Quebec. A wide variety of freshwater fish can be found in these layers in Scotland from a time when the very first four-limbed vertebrates were evolving. The Achanarras beds, named after the quarry where they were first discovered, are the layers that were laid down in Lake Orcadie during the Devonian period, 380 million years ago. In much more recent times, it was worked for the laminated limestone which was split for roofing slates, but is now closed; the main central portion is flooded and inaccessible. These fossil beds have been studied since the early 19th century, most notably by the stonemason Hugh Miller. To this day, scientists are discovering fossils from this now closed and protected quarry, but whole fish are rare and easily broken when found- making this example so remarkable! Fourteen types of fish have been found in this quarry alone and these fossils are still providing new discoveries and information on Earth's first fish and other animals!
  
  This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
  
  Provenance: ex private German collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #167887

  Condition

  Professionally prepared. No restoration or repairs! Clear sealer added to the surface of fossils.
• Shipping Info

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