Once a living creature, a large mollusc living in the shallow temperate seas in what is now central Canada, the eons have literally transformed this specimen of Placenticeras meeki into a gemstone.
Over millions of years, continual compression and the interaction of various minerals have transformed the shell into the opal-like gemstone ammonite. Significant deposits of this substance are only found at the Bearpaw Formation, with the present piece being a particular magnificent example.
Dating to the Upper Cretaceous Period, 75 - 72 million years B.P. the superb specimen that features in our 08 June auction shines with iridescence of red, green, yellow and orange on both sides. We are delighted to present this exceptional example to auction in our inaugural Form Through Time sale.
Lyon & Turnbull offers four auctions of Antiquities annually; with sculpture from ancient Greece and Rome placed into biannual dedicated sections of our Five Centuries sales and Fine Antiquities offered in our biannual Form Through Time editorial sales. This ensures that the broad range of Antiquities offered at Lyon and Turnbull each reach the correct market.
alex.tweedy@lyonandturnbull.com