July's Successful Natural History Sale at Sotheby's New York
July 2023 saw the Natural History auction at Sotheby’s New York which has caused quite a commotion in the collectors market due to some outstanding sales, many of which surpassed their high estimates. Below are some stand out sales from the auction alongside examples available to purchase from Extraordinary Objects Gallery
Gogottes
Auction results surrounding gogottes were hugely positive, with the piece below fetching $19,050, smashing its estimate of $5000-$8000.
Made of tiny quartz fragments held together by calcium carbonate and naturally sculpted, gogottes are only found in one cave in the world in Fontainebleau, France. Gogottes natural curves also served as inspirations to the likes of Surrealists Henry Moore and Louise Bourgeois.
The gogotte shown below has been nicknamed ‘Fleur’, for its bouquet like formation with each ‘flower’ head swirling with their fluid lines made as a result of silica cemented into sand.
Rare Iridescent Ammonites
Lot 8 of the auction was a stunning 43 x 37 cm iridescent ammonite with a full spectrum of colours, displaying true gem quality. This ammonite (Pictured below) hammered at $48,260 with an estimate of $40,000-$50,000.
Along with amber and pearl, ammolite is one of the world's only biogenic gems. The shimmering optical properties of the ammolite is similar to that of inorganic opal with its iridescence not only being aesthetically pleasing but also providing important information to palaeontologists. The colours and patterns on the shell can help identify different species and provide clues about the environmental conditions in which they lived. Some researchers even use the iridescence of ammonites to study the evolution of colour and optical properties in animals.
The Iridescent ammonite shown below measures 41.5 x 36 cm and is accompanied by a bespoke display stand. This piece, available to purchase from Extraordinary Objects, contains a large concentration of blue and purple hues, rare in this proportion due to blue being the top layer and therefore being worn away first by nature.
Megalodon Shark Teeth
This Early Pliocene Megalodon shark tooth (pictured below) was discovered in Georgia and once belonged to a Otodus megalodon, a fierce predator dating back to over 5 million years ago. Estimated to sell for between $2000-$3000, this piece eventually hammered for $10,160
The Megalodon tooth shown below measures 15 x 11.5 x 2 cm and is accompanied by a bespoke display stand. This piece, available to purchase from Extraordinary Objects, was discovered on the North Carolina coast and is an excellent example of Early Miocene natural history, dating back to 23 million years ago.
Meteorites
Discovered in Great Nama Land, Namibia, this Gibeon meteorite from the core of an asteroid was given an estimate of $10,000-$15,000. Having formed 4.5 billion years ago within the molten core of an asteroid that orbited the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, this meteorite weights 8.96 kg and eventually hammered for $20,320.
The meteorites available to purchase at Extraordinary Objects originate from the Campo Del Cielo in Argentina and are approximately 4.5 billion years old. Available in varying sizes and shapes, the meteorite pictured below weights a colossal 15kg and is accompanied by a bespoke stand.
