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| Item | # 0003877299 | | Family | Cypraeidae | | Name | Cypraea stercoraria - UNIQUE , Linnaeus, C., 1758 |
| Size | 87 mm |
| Locality | Senegal |
| Note | The JES Collection is renowned for its exceptional QUALITY, as evidenced by the specimens offered in every auction, so it is highly significant when a shell such as the current specimen is retained. This UNIQUE, GERONTIC, INCREDIBLE, specimen, possesses an undeniable beauty, well-nigh impossible to fully convey via words and images. Its extraordinary colour, solidity, weight, and resplendent gloss, lend the shell the appearance of being sculpted from burnished agate. Indeed, it has the appearance of many a fossil. Its colours defy description – blue; grey; pink; purple; rust; ochre; caramel; and reddish chocolate. This shell epitomises the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, with its ruggedness and ‘imperfections’ being, in fact, its strengths. Thus, the shell defies the standard grading system. Technically graded here as ‘Fine’, upon account of its ‘flaws’, when considered from an AESTHETIC perspective, it should be regarded as EXCEPTIONAL. What caused the specimen to create such a shell I cannot say, but it has thrice laid down a thick layer of shell material upon the dorsum – an initial layer across the dorsum entire; then two, atypically thick, successive layers, each incomplete, and of increasing magnitude, resulting in a highly textured surface, all of which have been heavily glossed. Beyond hypermature, with MASSIVE marginal and ventral callosity, and incredible weight and solidity, tending towards rostration. Despite its rugged overall nature, the terminals are PERFECT, and markedly developed. I can assure the winning bidder that the shell occasions a visual and tactile experience which cannot be conveyed here. Retained for many decades, now to be passed to another Cypraeidae specialist interested in unique variants, or connoisseur of conchological oddities of the first order. Data: Off Ngor, Almadies Arrondissement, Dakar Department, Dakar Region, Senegal; upon sand substrate; 20-30 m; dredged; 1988. Size: 87 mm. Grading: Fine (but ‘Gem’ for form). Provenance: JES Collection; London / Melbourne. |
| Seller | JES (1359) - Register to view Feedback | | Seller Country | AUSTRALIA |
| Shipment / PaymentShip. / Paym. | Available for registered users... |
| Curr. of this item |  EURO |
| Start Price | 1,00 € |
| Current Price | 53,00 € - offered by Warry - Auction closed -
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| | Bid IncrementsBid Incr. |
| Range | Bid Increment |
| under 100 € | 1 € |
| from 100 to 200 € | 2 € |
| from 200 to 500 € | 5 € |
| from 500 to 1000 € | 10 € |
| over 1000 € | 25 € |
| | End | 24-09-2025 > 21:30:00 | | shellauction.net timeServer time | 18-10-2025 > 07:21:36 | | Time left | ... | |
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