Description:

**First Time At Auction**

East Asia, China, Shandong Province, Jurassic to Cretaceous, ca. 199.6 to 70 million years ago. A fine split matrix of several fossilized Lycoptera fish imbedded in stone slabs - identical due to the slab cut. When excavated, the matrix is split along the natural grain and the fossil inside is also slit perfectly down the center, with the remains sticking to both sides of the slab - while sometimes one half is just an impression, here the material of the fossils is partially imbedded in both halves. There are 3 full Lycoptera fish and a partial body of one; these fish are often found in groups, suggesting they traveled in schools. The bones and even some of the soft tissue of these fish are well preserved, with additional organic plant matter that was trapped in the sediment with them as they fossilized. Keeping the matching slabs together is always a nice way to fully appreciate fossilized remains! Size (matrix): 7.75" L x 8.5" W (19.7 cm x 21.6 cm); (fish fossil): 2.75" L x 0.5" W (7 cm x 1.3 cm)

Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010

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.

#164123

  • Condition: Professionally prepared and excavated. One slab is repaired from two large pieces that are reattached with visible infill in break line on the verso, but the repair does not interfere with the fish fossils. Both slabs are split with remains of fossils nearly perfectly preserved in both halves. Fronds on the plant are better preserved in one slab due to splitting.

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December 29, 2021 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000