A GOGOTTE OLIGOCENE (30 MILLION YEARS OLD), FONTAINEBLEAU, FRANCE

of natural flattened form, orientated to taper to a small bud, amassed of various softly rounded protrusions formed of cascading folds and burgeoning layers, the sandstone of a greyish-white colour, metal stand

Acquired in France in the 1980s.

This gogotte was formed naturally in the geological formation of sand at Fontainebleau. It comes from a geological layer dated to the Stampian era (approx. 30 million years). There is no breakage and there are no traces of connections or contact to any other gogotte, meaning that this example was standing alone and is complete. There is some abrasion visible in one area to the lower register. The slow accretion of siliceous sediment has enabled this natural sculpture to achieve these soft and voluptuous forms which calcium carbonate further solidified for eternity.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A gogotte, which could be a sculpture from today’s contemporary art world, is a millions-of-years old naturally shaped mineral rarity consisting of tiny quartz fragments held together by calcium carbonate. These bizarre sandstone formations from Fontainebleau in France, which inspired the Surrealists, can also be viewed today in the Versailles gardens. Louis XIV of France, known as the Sun King, commissioned similar gogottes to be excavated for his gardens. The ornately rounded, scrolling formations—somewhat Baroque in design—have been restored to their original state surrounding the mysterious Grove of the Three Fountains designed by Le Nôtre in 1677. A particularly well-preserved and similar-sized example of a sandstone concretion is on display at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.