From Natural Iridescent Ammonites to NASA Guidebooks, Hindman’s Upcoming Auction Offers Natural Wonders of Our World

Ammonite fossils belonged to the Jurassic period when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Ammonites were squid-like marine creatures, found in oceans, that eventually died 66 million years ago. Their shells fossilized over time. A large 16.25 inches (41.3 cm) tall, natural, iridescent ammonite fossil (Placenticeras costatum) is a leading lot in Hindman’s upcoming A Cabinet of Curiosities auction of ancient art and natural history. This exemplary ammonite fossil was recovered in Canada. It is an intensely vibrant ammonite that took millennia to become an iridescent gemstone. Its colors shift with the light from vivid reds to emerald greens to flickers of orange and gold, purple, and brilliant blue.

Hapi, the Egyptian river god or Nile god, was greatly celebrated in ancient Egypt. Egyptians believed that the god flooded the river of the Nile to deposit the rich, fertile soil. Hapi is depicted as an androgynous figure with large drooping breasts and a prominent belly, often associated with fertility and illustrated as having both male and female bodily attributes. A sandstone relief of Hapi from the Ptolemaic Period is available in this auction. The god wears a crown of papyrus and lotus in this relief. Other notable lots in the sale include a 4.6-billion-year-old meteorite that fell to Earth, a NASA guidebook from 1966, and more. Find the listed items and more on Hindman and register to place a bid.