The breathtaking highlight of the auction is unmistakably the 7-meter-long and c. 150-million-year-old Stegosaurus skeleton.

HAMBURG.- On May 28, 2015, at 6 pm CET, Germany’s leading auction house Auctionata presents a very special online auction: entitled “Nature at Home – Prehistorical fossils and minerals”, 90 decorative and highquality natural artworks will be sold via livestream on www.auctionata.com. The absolute highlight of the auction is the complete skeleton of a stegosaurus, which is valued at 2,4 million Euros. Furthermore, the auction will feature unique finds from nature that blur the lines of science, art, and interior. 

The auction, which will be hosted in cooperation with the REDGALLERY in Hamburg and livestreamed from the gallery space, impressively showcases how these rare objects can be brilliantly integrated into a home environment due to their natural, intrinsically beautiful aesthetics. The gallery has become the most renowned destination for enthusiasts, collectors, designers and museums. The owner and founder of the gallery, Andreas Guhr, is recognized expert in his field with 45 years of experience. “I am excited to see”, he says, “how the auction format with Auctionata’s modern technology will work out and how bidders around the world will take the opportunity to acquire objects that are many million years old.” 

The breathtaking highlight of the auction is unmistakably the 7-meter-long and c. 150-million-year-old Stegosaurus skeleton from the late Jurassic era, which consists of over 90% original bone material and bears extremely high surface quality. The skeleton is the best finding of this genus to ever come to market. The species is characterized by the rows of bony plates running along its spinal cord. Scientists are disagreeing whether the plates purely served a visual function so that they could identify each other, alike to antelopes’ antlers, or whether it’s possible for the plates having a secondary thermoregulatory purpose like elephants’ ears. The end of their tails bore two sets of lethal spikes. The fossil was discovered in Wyoming (USA) in 2010 and excavated in 2011. All big plates, its tail spikes as well as vertebrae are nearly complete. Remarkably, the skeleton bears obvious fight marks. The skeleton is also of highest scientific interest: the anchor points of the plates are clearly visible, what makes this finding unique. The excavations, preservation and mounting were carried out and certified by experienced scientists. The object will start at 1.2 million Euros at auction, complete with certificates and a booklet with scientifically detailed descriptions. 

Lot 58. Armored Dinosaur, Stegosaurus, Eastern Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming, USA, Late Jurassic, c. 150 million years. Estimate 1 200 000 € / 1 560 000 €. Photo Auctionata

The object is in good state of preservation. The total dimensions are 155 x 270 x 570 cm and the weight measures c. 850 kg. Accompanied by the complete excavation report of the Redgallery. 

Provenance: Redgallery, Hamburg 

A very complete and articulated adult stegosaurus from the famous Morrison Formation in the USA 

Stegosaurus: The stegosaurus is a type of armored dinosaur and his name can be translated with ‘roof lizard’, from the ancient Greek στέγος Stegos ‘roof’ and σαῦρος sauros ‘lizard’. He was, with a length of up to nine meters, the largest known member of stegosaurus. With its imposing bony plates and tail spikes the stegosaurus was - along with tyrannosaurus, triceratops, Apatosaurus and velociraptor - one of the most popular dinosaurs ever. At least three different species were secure in western United States and Portugal. The typical form of the large and heavily built stegosaurus is given by its unusual position: The back was strongly arched, forelegs are short, its tail was lifted in the air and the head close to the ground.

Additional highlights of the auction are natural artworks such as a fish saurian from Toarcium found in South Germany (Starting price 80,000 Euros), prehistorical scallop shells in matrix from South of France (Starting price 4,500 Euros), exceptionally large pair of Amethyst geodes (Starting price 38,000 Euros) and a large diptych with prehistorical pisces on matrix (Starting price 70,000 Euros).

Lot 21. A Monumental Ichthyosaurs Stenopterygius quadricissus in Slate Matrix, Holzmaden, Germany, Toarcian, c. 180 million years. Estimate 1 200 000 € / 1 560 000 €. Photo Auctionata

Mounted in a metal frame. The object is in good condition. It measures 310 x 145 x 4 cm. The weight of 280 kg, (bde).

Provenance: Redgallery, Hamburg

The monumental plate shows an Ichthyosaurs, embedded in layers of Lias Epsilon 
The first intact skeleton of an Ichthyosaur was discovered in England, in 1811, and its similarity to the tetrapod's physique caused amazement in many. Over time, some researchers have mistaken these fossils for those of fish, others for amphibians or acquatic mammals. Eventually, the Ichthyosaur was classified as its own species of marine reptile in 1835, by French zoologist Henri Maria Ducrotay de Blainville.

Numerous fossil finds from the slate quarries, in the area surrounding Holzmaden, can be seen today in renowned collections worldwide.

Lot 3. Prehistoric scallops in matrix (limestone) Gigantopecten restitutensis, Lacoste, France, Miocene, c. 20 million years. Estimate 4 500 € / 5 850 €. Photo Auctionata.

The object is in good condition with usual signs of age and some weathering traces. It measures 85 x 73 x 22 cm. The weight of 104 kg. (bde) 

Fossilized evidence of impressive dimensions. 

This example of fossilized pecten, commonly referred to a scallops, a very well preserved, as evidenced by their secure coating. The robust and dense configuration of mollusks consits of calcite, which behaves in a water resistant manner when placed in a water or acid based environment. 

Lot 30. Exceptionally Large Pair of Amethyst Geodes, Irai, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Estimate 38 000 € / 49 400 €. Photo Auctionata.

The objects are in good condition. The total dimensions are 65 x 232,5 x 47 cm and 62 x 236 x 42 cm and the weight measures c. 369 kg and 410 kg.

Provenance: Redgallery, Hamburg 

This large pair of amethyst geodes is a fascinating natural wonder and evidence of the prehistorical era.

Lot 40. Monumental Dyptichon with fossilized fish, Knightia eocaena, Diplomystus dentatus and Priscacara serrata, Kemmerer, Wyoming, United States, Eocene, c. 50 million years. Estimate 38 000 € / 49 400 €. Photo Auctionata.

Both plates are in good condition, with only minor losses. The plates measure 243,84 x 121.92 cm each. The weight of each plate is 220 kg. (bde)

Provenance: Redgallery Gallery, Hamburg  

This spectacular composition of fossils was found in the petrified sediments of a huge 50 million year old fresh water lake in Wyoming. Unbroken plates of fossils with these dimensions are extraordinarily rare, and this piece is no exception since both plates originate from the same sedimentary layer.