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RARE ASSOCIATED GROUP OF ICHTHYOSAUR VERTEBRAE IN MATRIX FROM RARE SOURCE Luxembourg EARLY JURASSIC PERIOD (LIAS): 206 - 180 million years ago Buried deep in extremely hard rock matrix that we thought we would never finish preparing! This is easily one of those "never again to be seen" fossils. The source is what is key - LUXEMBOURG! These are four fossil vertebrae from the same ichthyosaur still embedded in their original host rock and showing exceptional preservation as well as natural color. Three are complete and one is partial. Their size indicate coming from a very large ichthyosaur. The vast majority of ichthyosaur fossils come from two main sources with typical features of each - England (three dimensional bones and teeth) and Germany (shale slab fossils). While Jurassic geology and deposits are known in Luxembourg, never have we seen ANY ichthyosaur fossils from Luxembourg make it to the private market and likely will never again. If these had come from England, they would still be impressive but their source makes them truly qualified for public display or at least, the most impressive private collection. NOTE: Special caution should always be applied when considering ichthyosaur fossils from China. Impressive, masterfully made fakes of ichthyosaurs in slabs have plagued the market from this source. See FAKE CHINESE FOSSILS for more info. Regardless of the source, associated three-dimensional Ichthyosaur bones are very rare when found. When any fossils of this type are discovered, it is an unforgettable event in the life of a fossil-hunter! Aside from the ultra rare provenance, the sheer time needed to prepare this piece spans more man-hours than we want to readily admit. We prepared this magnificent specimen completely in our lab and the matrix was one of the hardest, toughest rock substrates we have worked with, requiring extensive time with pneumatic tools. To the contrary, the ichthyosaur bones were extremely fragile so work was tedious yet required constant caution in proceeding. The result was worth the efforts and regardless of what you may know or appreciate in rare fossils, the artistic composition and natural sculptural form of this piece alone, will make anyone stop and take notice. Specimen is mounted on a custom hidden peg to give the impression it is floating on its edge. Due to the location of the bones and our preparation technique, this remarkable specimen can be viewed and appreciated from all sides and shows exposed bones from multiple angles. The photos fall far short of accurately depicting the dimension and surface quality of this specimen. The actual fossil is much nicer when seen in person than it appears in the photos. The actual fossil is not as rough looking as it shows up in the photographs above. The photos also cannot fully demonstrate the very high relief and fascinating detail overall which again, must be experienced in person to appreciate. Put this masterpiece of prehistory in any interior or collection and wait for the stunned viewers' responses. You can never tire of admiring this one!!! A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOSSIL!
Ichthyosaurs resemble a cross between a reptile and a bottle-nose dolphin. The name ICHTHYOSAUR literally means "fish lizard". They were strange aquatic predators that appeared at the Early Jurassic Period. Sizes varied amongst different species which attained lengths from 3 to 50 feet. Like dolphins, they had lungs and breathed air requiring their periodic return to the surface. They also had long snouts lined with sharp, pointed teeth. One obvious and unique feature though, is the enormous eyes they had. It is theorized they spent much of their time diving to dark ocean depths and needed a large, light-gathering eye to see. Ichthyosaurs were very swift and powerful swimmers that preyed on fish and cephalopods. They gave birth to their young live, spending their entire life in the ancient seas. EXTREMELY BREATH-TAKING AND EQUALLY RARE - ULTRA RARE SOURCE!!! PHOTOS DO NOT DO THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME SPECIMEN JUSTICE 10.5" x 10.25" overall, vertebrae 4" across SOLD MV28-001 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
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Ichthyosaurs painting by TODD MARSHALL. Used with permission and copyright protected. |
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1995 |
