Description:

North Africa, Morocco, Cretaceous, ca. 80 to 72 million years ago. An impressive skull from a plesiosaur, an extinct, large marine reptile, probably an elasmosaurid, with a characteristically narrow, triangular head. The huge nostrils are clearly visible here, near the eyes rather than at the tip of the snout. Interestingly, they do not appear to have been adapted to smelling underwater! The large eye sockets are face upward. The teeth are needle-like, sharp cones with fine striations from tip to base. The upper part of the skull is represented here, while the mandible is gone. A fierce, incredibly ancient creature! Size: 13.2" L x 9" W x 3.25" H (33.5 cm x 22.9 cm x 8.3 cm); 6" H (15.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Ohio, USA collection, acquired before January 2019; ex-private Virginia collection, acquired in Morocco

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.

#149914

  • Condition: Repaired and restored from multiple pieces, with approximately 70% original material. Some small losses to peripheries, including some of the tips of the teeth. Nice deposits on surface.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

October 3, 2019 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$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