Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6
Natural Gogotte Formation
About the Item
A magnificent example of a gogotte formation composed of thick swirls and folds of sparkling sandstone. Discovered in the Oligocene sand dunes of Fontainebleau, France, formed circa 30 million years before present or later.
The incredible, almost otherworldly appearance of gogottes may easily be mistaken for the work of a most talented artist. In fact, these sandstone sculptures are entirely natural in origin. They have been found in multiple locations but those from Fontainebleau, such as the present example, are the most remarkable. Thirty-five million years ago, a sea covered what is now the forest of Fontainebleau, and dunes of exceptionally fine and homogenous sand formed. As silica-rich water filtered through this sand, it turned into stone. The flow of water finely modelled the sandstone into the aesthetic concretions we now know as gogottes. These are rare and are only found sporadically several metres deep into the ground. They owe their sparkling white appearance to the extreme and unmatched purity of the Fontainebleau sand, sometimes reaching a composition of 99.9% silica. Each of them is unique – a masterpiece slowly fashioned by the hands of Nature.
The intriguing name of “gogotte” was coined by French geologist Claude Guillemin (1923- 1994), who was inspired by the children’s book series Babar the Elephant. In one of the books, a group of monsters called Gogottes are shown hiding behind rocks. These rocks reminded Guillemin of the sandstone concretions from Fontainbleau, and the name stuck.
The striking forms of gogottes have fascinated their beholders for centuries. They have inspired many artists, such as the French surrealists or the English sculptor Henry Moore, who owned his own example. The Sun King himself, Louis XIV, admired these natural artworks and kept them in his gardens at Versailles, where they can still be admired today. Gogottes can also be found in some of the world’s leading natural history museums, notably the Smithsonian Institution, Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Natural History Museum in London.
PROVENANCE:
Found in the sand dunes of Fontainebleau, 1989-1994.
- Dimensions:Height: 18.51 in (47 cm)Width: 13.39 in (34 cm)Depth: 8.67 in (22 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:30 Million Years Before Present
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Established in 2008
1stDibs seller since 2014
100 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 7 hours
Associations
LAPADA - The Association of Arts & Antiques DealersInternational Confederation of Art and Antique Dealers' AssociationsThe British Antique Dealers' Association
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Natural Gogotte FormationLocated in London, GB'Louis XIV' Gogotte Formation Measures: circa 30 Million y/o 105 x 76 x 15 cm A magnificent example of a gogotte formation, nicknamed Louis XIV, composed of thick swirls and folds of sparkling sandstone. Discovered in the Oligocene sand dunes of Fontainebleau, France, formed circa 30 million years before present or later. The incredible, almost otherworldly appearance of gogottes may easily be mistaken for the work of a most talented artist. In fact, these sandstone sculptures are entirely natural in origin. They have been found in multiple locations but those from Fontainebleau, such as the present example, are the most remarkable. Thirty-five million years ago, a sea covered what is now the forest of Fontainebleau, and dunes of exceptionally fine and homogenous sand formed. As silica-rich water filtered through this sand, it turned into stone. The flow of water finely modelled the sandstone into the forms we now know as gogottes. These are rare and are only found sporadically, several metres buried underground. They owe their sparkling white appearance to the extreme and unmatched purity of the Fontainebleau sand, sometimes reaching a composition of 99.9% silica. Each of them is unique – a masterpiece slowly fashioned by the hands of Nature. The name “gogotte” was coined by French geologist Claude Guillemin (1923- 1994), inspired by the children’s book series Babar the Elephant...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Natural Specimens
MaterialsSandstone
- Natural Gogotte FormationLocated in London, GBA magnificent example of a gogotte formation composed of thick swirls and folds of sparkling sandstone. Discovered in the Oligocene sand dunes of Fontainebleau, France, formed circa 30 million years before present or later. The incredible, almost otherworldly appearance of gogottes may easily be mistaken for the work of a most talented artist. In fact, these sandstone sculptures are entirely natural in origin. They have been found in multiple locations but those from Fontainebleau, such as the present example, are the most remarkable. Thirty-five million years ago, a sea covered what is now the forest of Fontainebleau, and dunes of exceptionally fine and homogenous sand formed. As silica-rich water filtered through this sand, it turned into stone. The flow of water finely modelled the sandstone into the aesthetic concretions we now know as gogottes. These are rare and are only found sporadically several metres deep into the ground. They owe their sparkling white appearance to the extreme and unmatched purity of the Fontainebleau sand, sometimes reaching a composition of 99.9% silica. Each of them is unique – a masterpiece slowly fashioned by the hands of Nature. The intriguing name of “gogotte” was coined by French geologist Claude Guillemin (1923- 1994), who was inspired by the children’s book series Babar the Elephant. In one of the books, a group of monsters called Gogottes are shown hiding behind rocks. These rocks reminded Guillemin of the sandstone concretions...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Natural Specimens
MaterialsOther
- Gogotte FormationLocated in London, GBGogotte formation circa 30 Million y/o Measures : 42 x 21 x 63 cm. A magnificent example of a gogotte formation, composed of thick swirls and fo...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Natural Specimens
MaterialsSandstone
- Large Leaf Fossil from the Green River FormationLocated in London, GBA large and beautifully preserved fossilised leaf from the Green River formation, a site which has brought forth some of the best-preserved fossi...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier North American Wall-mounted Sculptures
MaterialsOther
- Banded Iron Formation with Red Jasper, Haematite & Tiger's EyeLocated in London, GBBanded Iron Fossil Formation Circa 2.9 Billion y/o This spectacular banded iron formation from Port Hedland, Western Australia, provides evid...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Australian Natural Specimens
MaterialsMulti-gemstone
- Cross Section of Exceptional Lunar MeteoriteLocated in London, GB“This 149-gram slice of the Gadamis 004 lunar meteorite contains a wide variety of sizes of light-colored angular anorthositic clasts. These silicate c...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Libyan Natural Specimens
MaterialsStone
You May Also Like
- Natural Gogotte Specimen FormationLocated in Pease pottage, West SussexA Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Natural Specimens
MaterialsStone
- Natural Gogotte Specimen FormationLocated in Pease pottage, West SussexA Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Natural Specimens
MaterialsStone
- Natural Gogotte Specimen FormationLocated in Pease pottage, West SussexA Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Natural Specimens
MaterialsStone
- Natural Gogotte Specimen FormationLocated in Pease pottage, West SussexA Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Natural Specimens
MaterialsStone
- Natural Gogotte Specimen FormationLocated in Pease pottage, West SussexA Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Natural Specimens
MaterialsStone
- Large Natural Gogotte FormationLocated in Pease pottage, West SussexA Gogotte Formation Of natural form, dating from the Oligocene period (30 Million years ago). Beguiling natural mineral formation, they are the result of calcium carbonate binding w...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier French Natural Specimens
MaterialsStone
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Formations Stone
Decorative Book Cover
Antique Decorative Concrete
Monster Sculpture
Garden Sculpture In Concrete
Antique Monster
English 15th
English 15th Century
Sea Monster
Louis Sun King
English Watering Can
Garden Of Versailles
White Elephant Sculpture
Water Filter
Louis 15th Furniture
Louis 15th
Antique Fashion Books
15th Century English Furniture