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Natural ‘Gogotte’ Sculpture from Oligocene

Price:$30,171.93

$68,370.57List Price

About the Item

This seemingly striking sculpture, composed of thick swirls and folds, is in fact an entirely natural formation. Formed some 30 million years ago in the Oligocene sand dunes of Fontainebleau, France, it is a beautifully aesthetic example of a sandstone concretion known as a ‘gogotte’. Mounted on a simple black base, it is an aesthetic reminder of the forces of nature. Gogottes are sandstone concretions formed when silica-rich groundwater slowly percolates through ultra-fine sand, sculpted over millennia by subtle currents into the undulating shapes seen here. Endeavouring to understand these remarkable geological specimens, it is natural to experience pareidolia, and to see in their folds a certain familiarity; here a globe-like shape, a fertility idol or Henry Moore sculpture. Blurring the line between art and nature, this formation, with its sparkling surface and bold silhouette, embodies the meaning intended by the word terribilità. As a term applied by contemporaries to Michelangelo’s sculptures, it denotes the sheer awe felt at the magnificence of an object’s creation. ‘Gogottes’ fulfill this in every way. It is a work of art, comparable to the sculptures of great artists, yet it is shaped entirely by the hands of Nature. Provenance: Discovered in the sand dunes of Fontainebleau, France, 1989-1994. Please note that this item is a work of art and is thus exempt from US reciprocal tariffs. ArtAncient are dealers in rare wonders from the formation of the Solar System to late antiquity, discovering, studying and placing objects in extraordinary collections. Do not hesitate to contact us for more details on this piece.

Dimensions:
Height: 24.81 in (63 cm)Width: 17.33 in (44 cm)Depth: 8.67 in (22 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Sandstone
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 30 million years old
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 428091stDibs: LU1052246013732

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