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THBFossilized European Ice Age Wisent Steppe Bison Skull
Lot 178
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$40,000 - $60,000
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Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
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
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
View Full Catalog (371)
- Lot Description
Western Europe, Rhine River Deposit, Pleistocene, ca. 250,000 to 10,000 years ago. This amazingly well-preserved and large Ice Age fossilized skull is from a massive European steppe bison, Bison priscus. When discussing this classic Pleistocene beast, also known as the steppe wisent, it is important to emphasize that it is of European Ice Age origin and not from the much later Holocene. The bone preservation and detail are exceptional on this skull, with original material with no fabrication and only a single repair! The teeth still embedded in the maxilla are all original to this skull as found. The rich and highly aesthetic color is a result of this well-preserved example being buried deep in a protective layer of gravel. This is a true fossil from the days of Europe's last Ice Age when Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons hunted these beasts and memorialized their hunts and reverence for these creatures in their famous cave paintings. Size: 49.25" W (125.1 cm)
Why complete fossil skulls of this animal are so rarely found in European deposits is mostly attributed to the fragile nature of the nasal portion of the skull. In most cases, only the skull cap with the horns survives, and the remainder is destroyed in either prehistory or during the destructive dredging activities as they are found. About 20 years ago, dredge machine technology was updated in Europe to use destructive suction dredges that pulverize everything with the gravel rock. Because of this, recent or future discoveries of such a fossil are impossible. Only old, past collection specimens such as this one, are available when they come to market. This skull was found quite some time ago, when the gravel deposits in the Central European rivers were dredged using simple bucket and crane dredges.
The magnificent European Steppe Wisent, scientifically known as Bison priscus, were both revered and hunted by Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon humans. Their meat, hide, bones, and horns would have been valuable resources to humans in order to survive the harsh environment of the Ice Age. Cave paintings have been discovered depicting stylized wisents and hunting parties of these animals by prehistoric Man. This beast thrived on the steppes throughout Europe, Central Asia, Beringia, and North America during the final Ice Age.
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.
#167884Complete with original teeth still attached. Single repair to left horn core only. All original material!Condition
- Shipping Info
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