HUGE ARIETITES AMMONITE - Schoppenstedt (Braunschweig), Germany

EARLY JURASSIC PERIOD (LIAS):  206 - 180 million years ago

This massive Arietites bucklandi ammonite was recently discovered by accident during utility construction near a small town in north central Germany.  We were very fortunate to secure such a rare example in the matrix to where we can conduct the delicate preparation needed to best care for its fragile features.  Note the intricate inner chamber structures still preserved and intact as seen in the second to last image!!!

WARNING:

With the majority of large European Jurassic ammonites, much of the chamber detail and center is completely fabricated.  They are usually easy to spot and have this "too good to be true" appearance, simply "looking" fake.  Large specimens from France should be highly suspect.  Large portions of the ammonite are usually carved or rebuilt from plaster and then expertly colored to match the rest of the ammonite.  After the entire ammonite is then sealed with a clear preservative, it is impossible to detect the fake areas without randomly chiseling the surface and looking for the white of the plaster.  These reconstructed ammonites sell for a small fraction of genuine large specimens of the same type and period.

While this specimen sustained damage when it was discovered by heavy equipment, it is nearly complete with only about 1% - 2% of restoration to a couple of small segment portions.  Unlike other large examples of this ammonite, the surface is genuine (outside of this repair) and has not been filled with plaster to smooth and fabricate a shell.  In many areas of this specimen, the shell is present and is solid calcite at 1/2" thick in places along the outer edge!  The center is complete and genuine and we have not carved the center to replicate what was not there.  The presence of the intricacies of this species' inner chamber detail are wonderfully seen in various portions of this specimen as shown in the second to last image.  This is a VERY rare specimen and not so common from this part of Europe in such a state of completeness.  When found from this region, they are usually smaller and any large examples are almost always damaged beyond repair necessitating extensive reconstruction.  We have opted to keep the ammonite original considering its rarity.  Entire ammonite has been stabilized and chemically treated to prevent loss of detail or damage from handling.  Our preparation of this valuable specimen enables us to completely disclose any and all work performed.  Beware of the hidden work that most large ammonites carry where the seller has not personally prepared the fossil and is not privy to such knowledge (or truthful about it).

For the advanced collector or for anyone who values such a rarity and wishes to house such a large and genuine, massive specimen for an unforgettable display.

INCREDIBLY RARE - ACCIDENTAL CONSTRUCTION DISCOVERY - CENTER IS GENUINE - NOT CARVED!!! 

18" wide x 15" high

SOLD     AM-007     INCLUDES STAND     Actual Item - One Only

3995