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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ethnographic / Absolute rarity: Spondylus princeps & Murex symbiosis |...
Detailed article description Short description For sale is an absolutely extraordinary, museum-grade specimen of a natural symbiosis / adhesion (epibiont) between a noble Pacific spiny oyster (Spondylus princeps) and a spindle snail (Murex / Hexaplex). With a size of 9.4 cm, it is a perfectly proportioned cabinet piece. The snail grew during its life inseparably and harmoniously directly on the shell. Such a sculptural, undamaged dual specimen is extremely rare on the market and represents the crown jewel for any discerning maritime collection. Product details & highlights at a glance Type / Symbiosis: Spondylus princeps (Pacific spiny oyster) as host with firmly grown Murex spiny snail. Size: 9.4 cm (perfect display case size) Condition: Top condition (excellently preserved delicate spines on both shell and snail) Color: Characteristic intense orange-red/pink of the Spondylus paired with the distinctive natural tones of the Murex snail. Special feature: Absolutely natural, unchanged composite piece – no artificial composition! Origin: East Pacific (typically from the warm waters from Baja California (Mexico) south to Ecuador/Peru, finding depth usually in rocky reefs between 15–50 meters). Cultural background: Spondylus princeps was regarded in pre-Columbian times as the holy "red gold of the Incas" and the Maya. Use: High-end collectible (science/conchology), investment object, or exclusive design element for refined taste. Condition description The piece is in immaculate collector’s condition. Notably, the delicate, hollow spines of the shell as well as the filigree appendages of the grown snail are largely complete and unbroken. The shells have been professionally cleaned, removing calcareous overlays without attacking the natural texture or the vibrant pigmentation. SKU Oberdiek Spondylus princeps 51
Estimate:$421.96
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorEthnographic
Estimate:
$421.96
OCT 8 | 3:00 PM
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
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A French gilt wirework box in the form of a bee skep, second...
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