paul sullivan Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Hello, I just joined the Forum. I bought this at a Sunday Market years ago for $5... I'm thinking it could possibly be a genuine fossil, ... it it very heavy, like its was made from bronze, and the teeth have such detail. And if fake, why would someone go to all this trouble for $5? Do you have any ideas what it is? Thanks for any help you can provide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 I believe its carved. I see no sutures identifying the different skull elements in the skull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 It may be carved, or cast (hard to tell from the pictures) lower primate skull. This looks like a teaching aid, or possibly a public display item from a diorama. Then again, it could also be an art piece! ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 I am going with somebody's college project in ceramics class. Real cool piece for $5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Well, for only $5, your not out too much moneys. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Pretty cool for that price. Indeed some kind of primate. I think this might be a rough cast as opposed to a sculpture. I don't think it makes sense for someone to make a sculpture of a primate with missing front teeth. Primate fossils are often very incomplete and the missing parts are sometimes reconstructed. My thinking is that at least the front teeth were missing and these were not reconstructed. If parts are reconstructed that would also explain the lack of detail. Since those few teeth that are visible do have quite a lot of detail I think this is just a rough cast of an incomplete primate skull. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Yes, maybe the teeth are real and the rough head cast was made to house them and show how and where they thought they fitted into the jaw. But they didn't have all the teeth. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Welcome to TFF! What is the size? Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taogan Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 I would go for very rough cast, maybe a stage or film prop? It doesn't have the detail I would expect for a teaching aid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul sullivan Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 Thank you for the help. If it was fake, what materials would they use? This looks and feels like stone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Replica monkey skulls. The manufacturer could have used cement, resin, or metal. Here are some replicas that are vaguely similar to yours: 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...
KimTexan Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Welcome to The Fossil Forum. It looks a lot like cast iron to me with the exception of just above the teeth. I also agree that it lacks the destail of skull suture lines that I’d expect to see in a fossil or teaching aid. One odd thing is what you see just above the teeth in pic 2. It almost looks like enamel painted onto the upper jaw. Maybe it is bronze or something shining through. Have you tried cleaning it at all with soapy water and a brush? I’d encourage it if it hasn’t been done. It might show some other informative info. If it is a manufactured piece you might find a trademark or signature or something. The teeth look modern to me. I could be wrong about this, but they also look human to me. Human may be much easier to come buy. Just curious, where was the Sunday market? It is often fascinating what you can find in some foreign markets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seguidora-de-Isis Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Primate bones are extremely fragile. And in the overwhelming majority of cases, these bones come to our present time in extremely fragmented form. But this is not the case here, all I see is a cast of real teeth coupled with an excellent sculpture made with human hands, an excellent work of art, but I see no sutures anywhere on this skull that makes me think otherwise. In your case, I believe that a real modern primate skull was used. And then painting with resin and rock powder. Is It real, or it's not real, that's the question! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginkgojerry Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Nice catch for 5 bucks !!!! Thats all I can say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeargleSchmeargl Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 On 2/2/2018 at 8:45 AM, paul sullivan said: Hello, I just joined the Forum. I bought this at a Sunday Market years ago for $5... I'm thinking it could possibly be a genuine fossil, ... it it very heavy, like its was made from bronze, and the teeth have such detail. And if fake, why would someone go to all this trouble for $5? Do you have any ideas what it is? Thanks for any help you can provide. That looks carved, since I don't see any separation of bones (such as bottom jaw from the rest of the skull), and there isn't that bony texture. Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 On 3.2.2018 at 1:54 PM, paul sullivan said: If it was fake, what materials would they use? I wouldn't call it a fake, since the seller was probably happy to have let it go for $5, but rather an interesting replica with a bit of artistic licence of a primate. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pemphix Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 I'm sure that it is carved (maybe with exeception of the teeth..) - no sutures or even bone material can be seen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.