Bouquet of Fossilized Giant Scallop Shells
Early Miocene Epoch (approx. 18 million years ago), Lacoste Quarry, Vaucluse, France
No reserve
Lot Closed
December 13, 07:45 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Bouquet of Fossilized Giant Scallop Shells
Gigantopecten restitutensis
Early Miocene Epoch (approx. 18 million years ago)
Lacoste Quarry, Vaucluse, France
15 x 23 x 6 inches (38.1 x 58.4 x 15.2 cm) on custom lacquered base. 29 pounds (13.2 kg).
Multiple Gigantopecten specimens attached to and fanning out from one another. The wide radial ribs on its thick shell are a distinguishing feature of this extinct type of scallop or pecten. The specimens seen here are well-preserved, intact shells with both halves mostly articulated.
Gigantopecten restitutensis—also known as a Saint-Jacques shell—is a species of scallop that lived from approx. 34 million years ago until their extinction approx. 781,000 years ago.
Like today's extant scallops, Gigantopecten was a salt water mollusk that made its living on the sea floor by filtering and eating plankton. These bivalves had relatively large shells, growing to heights over 5 inches (13 cm) and widths topping 6 inches (15 cm). Because of the considerable size and fragility of Gigantopecten fossils, their removal from the surrounding rock matrix represents preparatory work of the highest caliber, with the elegant, almost floral-like specimen offered here being a beautiful example.