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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ethnographic / naturalistic composition Taxidermy full body mount...
The Xestospongia muta is commonly known as the giant barrel sponge. It is the largest sponge species present in the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Belonging to the phylum Porifera, this remarkable marine invertebrate has earned, due to its extraordinary size and incredible longevity, the nickname "Sequoia of the Coral Reef." It can reach a diameter of 1.8 meters and a height of up to 2.4 meters. Its structure is typically cylindrical. It assumes the characteristic shape of a barrel or inverted bell and is equipped with a wide upper opening called an osculum. Its coloration ranges from red-brown to pink, up to gray-brown. To the touch it feels decidedly hard and stony. Its growth is extremely slow, therefore its life expectancy ranges from several hundred to over 2,000 years. Xestospongia muta lives exclusively in the tropical waters of the western Atlantic, developing between 10 and 120 meters depth, colonizing the hard bottoms of coral reefs. This sponge plays a leading role within the entire marine ecosystem, constantly pumping and filtering huge volumes of water and trapping bacteria and organic carbon. Its internal cavity is the habitat in which numerous species of fish, shrimp, and other invertebrates live. It also hosts communities of photosynthetic cyanobacteria that contribute to its nourishment and determine its various and singular colorations. Protagonist of this aesthetically interesting lot is a sponge into which important fragments of coral have been placed. The result is an object of notable aesthetic impact, capable of furnishing with style any space. A composition not only for lovers of marine objects but also for those who are continually seeking new decorative elements. Among the marine beings richest in suggestion, a true symbol of the enchanting and mysterious underwater world: Xestospongia muta with fragments of coral. Stand not included. A necessary clarification. The final image of our photographic gallery is obtained with the help of AI software. The aim is purely aesthetic but also illustrative: it shows the real object inside an artificially generated setting. The objective is to show how precious the items up for auction are and how well they fit in different, all very refined environments. Thank you for your attention.
Estimate:$170.57
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorEthnographic
Estimate:
$170.57
East Greenlandic mask of driftwood with strap of seal skin. Tasiilaq.
09/28/2026
$546.51
Est: $547.88
Carved wooden horse. Mounted on iron stand. Southeast Asia. 20th century.
09/28/2026
$159.4
Est: $308.99
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