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EXTREMELY RARE
COMPLETE
GIANT ORTHACANTHUS SHARK SKELETON ON MATRIX
Rheinland Pflaz, Germany
PERMIAN
PERIOD: 260 million years ago
SPECIAL NOTE: The current laws in
this state of Germany have forbid the collection of these remarkable
fossils since 1986. This legislation has permanently ended the supply of such
magnificent specimens such as this one being offered here. This
rare example was originally collected years prior to the ban but
remained unprepared until very recently when we acquired the specimen
from the original collector and performed all the preparations
ourselves. With digging in the
formation now off-limits, a specimen such as this is sure to appreciate
in value as an incredibly promising investment as well as leave
speechless everyone who has the pleasure to experience it in person.
Specimens like this are true international natural history treasures -
exceedingly rare in any collection of this quality of preservation as
well as execution of its preparation.
Recently completed from our preparation lab facility, we are pleased to
present this spectacular giant fossil Orthacanthus senckenbergianus shark
on matrix. This extremely rare large Permian shark fossil skeleton
represents a fortuitous opportunity
for the ultimate collector
looking for THE FINEST AND RAREST specimens
for their own private museum or to loan on public exhibition. This
is the kind of specimen that leaves you with a lasting impression when
viewed in person.
As
stated, we performed the entire preparation to this specimen so we can
fully attest to all the work done. The nature of how these fossils
are prepared are most time and work intensive. Every little detail
must be ground out by hand, carefully removing all matrix covering the
white fossil skeleton. The color of the fossil is completely
natural. Many of these specimens are hastily prepared by simply
grinding a level layer off of the top of the fossil. Unlike that
inferior method, we ground the overlying matrix completely around the
three-dimensional anatomy of the entire fossil surface, exposing superb
multi-layered detail of the original exquisitely preserved skeleton and
skull. The surrounding matrix was treated with a stone sealer that
brings out a most incredible natural deep, dark forest-olive green.
This natural dark green color in the shale offers the most impressive
aesthetics to the natural white of the fossil shark skeleton.
The pose of this
fossil shark is exactly as it died over 260 million years ago. In
many cases, fossils of these large sharks show poor articulation and
were fossilized in poses that are unattractive. The gentle and
graceful upward sweeping position of this fossil shark skeleton is of
the most desired poses and is 100% original and natural as found.
Overall restoration
to the skeleton amounts to only approximately 1-2%!
The rarity and presentation
of this magnificent piece is even more impressive in person!
Entire slab is reinforced with fiberglass and varies from 1" - 1.25" in
thickness, overall. The slab is secure and safe for a custom wall
mount application.
For
someone with an interest in the interior design applications of fossils,
it is most often that natural fossils on their original rock slabs are
almost always in shades of earth-tone colors which vary from gray to
beige. This specific fossil shark is very rare to have the rock
naturally show a green hue when darkened with the applied stone sealer.
If you browse the majority of fossils found and prepared on slabs, you
will likely never see this naturally-occurring color combination.
Because of this, the "white fossil on dark green" color scheme is rare
in of itself, and adds immense beauty and additional value to this
already extremely rare fossil. Many of these sharks are found on
rock that when darkened, varies from a medium to dark slate blue-gray.
Some are found with a black skeleton on brown or gray matrix.
Examples like this with the white skeleton on the dark matrix offer
better contrast for viewing and a more intriguing mystique to the
persona of the specimen.
From a period in time
before the dinosaurs even walked the earth, the bizarre Orthacanthus
thrived in prehistoric swamps and bayous in Europe and North
America. The Orthacanthus was an ancient freshwater shark that is
no longer in existence. It had a very long spine protruding from
the back of the head followed by a long ribbon-like dorsal fin that gave
it the appearance of an eel. The double forked teeth were another
unique characteristic. A full grown Orthacanthus is believed to
have grown to 10 feet in length and was THE most dangerous apex predator that terrorized
all creatures that lived in its environment.
GIANT
MUSEUM SPECIMEN OF EXQUISITE PREPARATION AND COMPLETENESS - SUPREME
INVESTMENT / EXHIBITION FOSSIL
71"
long by 47.5" overall in matrix, shark is 63.5" long
SOLD F019
Actual
Item - One Only
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