AJ Plai Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Well, actually my first concern would probably be whether if this is genuine but I guess its very hard to tell just by looking at an online picture. The specimen was in a closed display frame (which I really dislike the design...) so I couldn't quite take a better close-up picture of its surface. Would a UV light test help? What would I need to look for to see if its legit or not? Anyway here are the pics that I took: How is the condition of this specimen from a collector's perspectives? Thx guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 It is fairly typical: roughly prepared, and much restoration. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 I can't see very well in the pictures, but if you have seen it yourself or can look closely at it: Look carefully at the bones, they will not have any detail, real bones will have lots of texture. The bones will also have a hand painted look which the bones should not have. The carved vertebra will not look like vertebra, but will look like a lump with some straightforward ridges in it. There will also be no even spaces in-between each vertebra like real spinal cords has. If the specimen has any of the things just mentioned, it is definitely a fake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 From what I can see it appears to be a dorsal presentation as opposed to the more commonly seen ventral. This might make the piece more of interest. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Plai Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 Thx for the tips and info guys. From what I can see, not sure if I am right though - the ribcages do look kinda like they are painted and may be around the end of the tail bones also, but I guess that's not uncommon for a specimen like this right? As long as it's cheap, you get what you pay for I suppose. I think I will wait a bit longer and look for better looking specimens, preferably a larger and more professionally prepped one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daa906 Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 You can also run into the Chinese actually painting over real specimens in order to ship them from the country. (Selling them as painted replicas) I believe that yours is real, mainly because of the way its presented. As Snolly50 pointed out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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