ReeseF Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Hello, I'm looking at purchasing a beautiful Notogoneus osculus but there are a few areas that look painted/restored (near the dorsal fin, the bottom of the skull); is there anything that gives enhancement away in the pictures? Thank you for the help! Reese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) I personally do not see any obvious restoration. But, I believe it is a fairly common practice to "enhance" the fish with some type of ink coating, to bring out the bones more, and provide greater contrast. Nice looking fossil. Regards, Edited August 29, 2014 by Fossildude19 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I have seen a lot of fish fossils with painted in areas, especially background plants to enhance the "scene". I am not seeing any of this in your photos. It looks like a superb prep job to me. Hope you get it for a reasonable price and are happy with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Nothing odd from the photos. Look at it with a 10X loupe, if you have access. 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...
ReeseF Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 I personally do not see any obvious restoration. But, I believe it is a fairly common practice to "enhance" the fish with some type of ink coating, to bring out the bones more, and provide greater contrast. Nice looking fossil. Regards, I have seen a lot of fish fossils with painted in areas, especially background plants to enhance the "scene". I am not seeing any of this in your photos. It looks like a superb prep job to me. Hope you get it for a reasonable price and are happy with it. Thank you ! While painting is fairly common, I am looking for a piece without any paint/cover up--it's good to hear it looks original. Nothing odd from the photos. Look at it with a 10X loupe, if you have access. I would have it shipped--I'm glad all looks good! Reese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 There's something weird about that fish. The body between the head and just behind the pelvic fin and dorsal fin looks like a different preservation from the head and the tail behind those fins. Someone wouldn't go to the trouble of creating a complete Diplomystus from at least two different individuals but he would for a Notogoneus. I would look close at it before buying it. Hello, I'm looking at purchasing a beautiful Notogoneus osculus but there are a few areas that look painted/restored (near the dorsal fin, the bottom of the skull); is there anything that gives enhancement away in the pictures? noto1.JPGnoto2.jpegnoto3.jpeg Thank you for the help! Reese 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeseF Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 There's something weird about that fish. The body between the head and just behind the pelvic fin and dorsal fin looks like a different preservation from the head and the tail behind those fins. Someone wouldn't go to the trouble of creating a complete Diplomystus from at least two different individuals but he would for a Notogoneus. I would look close at it before buying it. Thank you--I can see the split, but the matrix seems to be consistent underneath the whole fish. I'll be sure to look it over, and hopefully there aren't any issues; my biggest concern was painting . Reese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 It may just be the flash showing up on the scales, lighting looks a bit funky ... would be interested to see a pic of it in natural daylight. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeseF Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 The piece is on its way here . I have my fingers crossed for no restoration/compositing! Reese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 (edited) Be aware that a good Green River preparator will chip away a bad skull, take a good skull (saved from an otherwise bad skeleton) and then lay it in and glue it on the matrix. The skull would be carefully chosen and shaped to fit perfectly. Then, the break would be filled in and painted to match. It depends on the collector. You might not mind something pieced together like that if it looks good and if it's priced less than a complete unrestored specimen. I'm not saying that's the case here. Just watch for it and don't be afraid to ask especially if the person you bought it from is the person who prepped it. Longtime preppers have "parts departments" for skeletons they specialize in. Thank you--I can see the split, but the matrix seems to be consistent underneath the whole fish. I'll be sure to look it over, and hopefully there aren't any issues; my biggest concern was painting . Reese Edited September 5, 2014 by siteseer 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Tim, Yeah, it could be just the lighting and maybe any paint/preservative was unevenly applied. Jess It may just be the flash showing up on the scales, lighting looks a bit funky ... would be interested to see a pic of it in natural daylight. Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Tim, Yeah, it could be just the lighting and maybe any paint/preservative was unevenly applied. Jess Jess, I had no idea that green river preppers were so talented and crafty! Thanks for the info. This is why I like finding my own! Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 It's not just the Green River stuff. Anytime a less-attractive element (a damaged bone, tooth, spine, etc.) on a flashy specimen can be removed and a better one plugged-in, it will be. They will even carefully break something distorted if they think they can make it look like it was never damaged. Jess, I had no idea that green river preppers were so talented and crafty! Thanks for the info. This is why I like finding my own! Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeseF Posted September 8, 2014 Author Share Posted September 8, 2014 The piece arrived today! Here are the pictures--looking at it in-person, it looks like it's original, but I am not sure if I could recognize expert restoration. Thank you for the help, Reese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Looks to me like the 'issues' noted before were just an artifact of the photography; beautiful fish! 1 "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...
caldigger Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Looks like you got a good one Reese, congrates! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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