Rare Giant Callopterus Jurassic Fish Fossil

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Exceptional Antiquities | Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 11, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-10-11 10:00:00 2018-10-11 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities | Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-art-3500
An important one-day auction featuring museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Callopterus sp. Found in Solnhofen Plattenkalk - Eichstatt, Germany. Jurassic (Toarcian), 183 to 175.6 million years ago. An extinct large Jurassic predatory fish called Callopterus sp. Callopterus of any quality fossil, is a RARE discovery in the Solnhofen deposits. Usually, fossils of this species are either poorly to moderately preserved or severely deformed. When alive, this fish had stunning fins, most notably, a very large, fine caudal (tail) fin. This specimen offered here is not only in impeccable condition but the pose is perfect - straight with no deformation or twisting of the body. Most impressive is the perfectly spread and preserved large caudal fin as well as all the other fins! The anal, pectoral, and dorsal fins are also spread and fully open which just makes this extraordinarily rare specimen even more beautiful and scarce. Size: 47" L x 37.5" W (119.4 cm x 95.2 cm); fish is 24" L (61 cm)
  
  The concave depressions in a few places show fossil bone in them and are not a result of damage when the plate split, but evidence that the fish died and was buried and pressed against several clams in the same layer. The clams pressed into the body leaving a few areas of their three-dimensional form.
  
  This fossil's detail can be attributed to the meticulous manual hand preparation in the manner that museum fossils were prepared a hundred years ago. The limestone slab is heavy with an approximate average thickness of .5". The entire reverse side has been reinforced with epoxy resin and fiberglass and a custom fabricated steel mounting brace has been attached to the back and allows this large slab to be safely hung on a wall that is structurally sound.
  
  Callopterus first inhabited the ancient Jurassic seas 183 million years ago. This fish is a member of an extinct order of bony fishes called Pholidophoriformes. The family is Oligopleuridae. With its large gape, large eyes and large fins, especially a large caudal fin, Callopterus was most likely a formidable hunter.
  
  Famous for producing an astonishing diversity of rare and most intricately preserved fossils found anywhere in the world, the Jurassic lithographic limestone deposits of southern Germany are legendary. Quarries in the region are privately held and mostly worked by hand on a small scale. The finest grade fossils are few and far between and much rock must be split to locate them. The best fossils are most often kept by the quarry owners who themselves, are often collectors. Some quarries are operated on a large scale but these are now dug with machinery instead of manual labor. Because of this the rock is damaged and along with it, the rare fossils. What all this means today is that even fewer fine grade Solnhofen fossils are found and when they are, rarely do the best pieces make it to market. Occasionally, an old private collection surfaces and specimens are sold or traded. This is where the rare opportunity comes along to acquire a specimen on a level that truly is a prize find. Typically, the older material is often the best as it was collected when the deposits were first being worked and quality was in greater abundance.
  
  Provenance: private Florida, USA collection, acquired in 2007 from a private American 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.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #139681

  Condition

  100% original with no fabrication. Fish inlaid into large unbroken limestone plate. A supreme example of a very rare species from Solnhofen and one of the largest known examples.
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