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Small Gogotte De Fontainenbleue, Natural Mineral Sculpture
About the Item
A nice 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. 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 striking forms of gogottes have fascinated their beholders for centuries. 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.
- Dimensions:Height: 3.55 in (9 cm)Width: 5.91 in (15 cm)Depth: 4.34 in (11 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Plinth is not included.
- Seller Location:Leuven , BE
- Reference Number:
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