Online Auction: Assorted Collectibles & Jewellery – Featuring Majolica Vase and Amber Pieces and furniture
Lot 163:
A Collection of Natural History Specimens and Curios, including Chambered Nautilus, Imperial Volute, and Mineral Samples
Description
This lot comprises a varied collection of eleven natural history specimens and curios, presented as unmounted cabinet pieces. The marine specimens include a halved Chambered Nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) displaying its internal pearly septa and chambers, a large Imperial Volute (Cymbiola imperialis) with prominent shoulder spines and mottled brown patterning, and a Major Harp shell (Harpa major) featuring strong longitudinal ribs. The collection also contains a polished bivalve shell, likely a species of Giant Clam (Tridacna), finished to a dark, iridescent grey-green on the exterior, and a dark, spiral-form shark egg case, characteristic of the Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni). The geological specimens include a crystalline Desert Rose (selenite), a translucent green calcite or fluorite specimen, a raw amethyst and quartz fragment on matrix, a rough red jasper, and a dark igneous rock with lighter inclusions, possibly snowflake obsidian. Additionally, the lot includes a large, polished carved wooden egg showing a prominent natural grain and bearing an inventory label numbered 1287. Note: Nautilus pompilius and Tridacna species are subject to CITES Appendix II regulations; international shipping may require permits.
Condition report:
The specimens are generally in good condition. The Nautilus shell shows minor chipping along the delicate outer edge of the cut. The mineral specimens are in their natural, raw, or partially polished states as described. The wooden egg is well-preserved with a smooth finish. No provenance is provided beyond the inventory tag on the wooden specimen.
Share this lot:
