Rare Gogotte Formation
Prehistoric Objects
Gogottes are prehistoric, naturally occurring sandstone concretions. They are formed from quartz crystals and calcium carbonate when superheated water extrudes through crevices over time into a basin of fine white silica sand. The silica then cements the sand together to form the gogottes' fluid lines, creating natural sculptures.
The finest specimens are found in Fontainebleau, France, renowned for its extremely fine-grained, porcelain-like sands. While concretions of sandstone are relatively common worldwide, the gogottes of Fontainebleau are of extreme rarity by virtue of their very fine grain, their pure and homogenous composition and the unique shapes sculpted by a particular sequence of natural geological forces. They are formed out of sands deposited during the Oligocene Period, approximately 30 million years ago.
Gogottes were a great inspiration to the Surrealists, as well as Louise Bourgeois and Henry Moore, and have captured the imaginations of some of the most powerful aristocrats in Europe. Louis XIV, “The Sun King” was so seduced by them, that he had numerous specimens excavated to decorate the gardens at the Palace of Versailles, and a great number of the ornately rounded, scrolling formations can be found surrounding the mysterious grove of the Three Fountains (designed by Le Nôtre in 1677 and reconstructed in 2004).
Rare Gogotte Formation
Prehistoric Objects
- Type of Object
- Rare Gogotte Formation
- Medium
- Naturally occurring sandstone concretion
- Place of Origin
- Fontainebleau, France
- Date
- Oligocene Period, 30 million years old
- Size
- 26 ¼ x 20 x 10 in : 67 x 51 x 25 cm
- Weight
- 150 lbs : 68 kg
- Reference
- AC22-55
- Status
- Available for sale, please enquire for price
Available Artists
- Albers Anni
- Andre Carl
- Baldessari John
- Bell Larry
- Boyd John
- Brice Lisa
- Calder Alexander
- Christo and Jeanne-Claude
- Dadamaino
- Dávila Jose
- de Tollenaere Saskia
- Downing Thomas
- Dyson Julian
- Francis Sam
- Freud Lucian
- Gadsby Eric
- Gander Ryan
- Gilliam Sam
- Guston Philip
- Haring Keith
- Held Al
- Hockney David
- Kapoor Anish
- Katz Alex
- Kelly Ellsworth
- Knifer Julije
- Kruger Barbara
- Kusama Yayoi
- Le Parc Julio
- Leciejewski Edgar
- Levine Chris
- LeWitt Sol
- Lichtenstein Roy
- Mack Heinz
- Maripol
- Martin Agnes
- Martin Jason
- Martin Kenneth
- Mavignier Almir da Silva
- Miller Harland
- Morellet François
- Motherwell Robert
- Nadelman Elie
- Nara Yoshitomo
- Nemours Aurélie
- O'Donoghue Hughie
- Pettibone Richard
- Prehistoric Objects
- Prince Richard
- Quinn Marc
- Riley Bridget
- Ruscha Ed
- Scott William
- Scully Sean
- Shrigley David
- Smith Anj
- Smith Richard
- Smith David
- Sonnier Keith
- Soto Jesús Rafael
- Soulages Pierre
- Taller Popular de Serigrafía
- The Connor Brothers
- Turk Gavin
- Vasarely Victor
- Warhol Andy
- Wesselmann Tom
- Wood Jonas
- Wool Christopher
- Yiadom-Boakye Lynette