DatFossilBoy Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Hello, I saw this trilobite on a french auction site. It is sold as restaured but I don't know which parts are restored and which ones are not. Also looks kind of filled and flat, normally these species have details and are not that orange. Can somebody tell me more? Does it look authentic to you? Regards, Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatFossilBoy Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 By the way,it is a Ampyx (I believe) and this specie did not have eyes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Looks completely carved to me to be honest. It seems to lack any detail one would expect from a real trilobite. 4 Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Hm. This one seems fairly fishy to me. Did the seller indicate how much restoration was done? There are elements to this that look carved, such as the genal spines, while the sides of the pleura look shaved/bevelled. The two notches on the right side of the cephalon don't look promising. 4 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Nothing about this "fossil" looks right to me. You can do better. Don 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatFossilBoy Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 11 minutes ago, Kane said: Hm. This one seems fairly fishy to me. Did the seller indicate how much restoration was done? There are elements to this that look carved, such as the genal spines, while the sides of the pleura look shaved/bevelled. The two notches on the right side of the cephalon don't look promising. The seller said that restoration has been made on different parts of the trilobite. He also issues certificats of authenticity and claims he specializes in paleontology... He has 100% positive feedback. Any thoughts? Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatFossilBoy Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 By the way the trilobite is 5.8 cm Tell me if you need more images Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 I have to agree with the others in that it does look like a carving. Another tip-off is the lack of proper symmetry along the axis. Try not to be persuaded by anyone who offers a Certificate of Authenticity; anyone can print one of those off, and they don't really mean anything at all, sadly. 3 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Yes, does really look to be carved to me too. Plenty more trilobites in the sea as they say . I am glad you posted here first before buying . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatFossilBoy Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 12 minutes ago, Kane said: I have to agree with the others in that it does look like a carving. Another tip-off is the lack of proper symmetry along the axis. Try not to be persuaded by anyone who offers a Certificate of Authenticity; anyone can print one of those off, and they don't really mean anything at all, sadly. Just to indicate,If It is fake and the seller did not say it was, he can get fined ( by the way all unsatisfied buyers get their money back) Thank you for giving advice, will not consider purchasing it anymore... a pity because real ones are quite rare. Best Regards,Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indominus rex Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 3 minutes ago, DatFossilBoy said: Just to indicate,It is from [seller's name redacted], I am sure he is quite known on the forums. Thank you for giving advice, will not consider purchasing it anymore... a pity because real ones are quite rare. Best Regards,Thomas Well there are a lot of fakes out there, but it's not always easy to recognise them, even I was a victim of a fake. 1 Life started in the ocean. And so did my interest in fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Sorry, but I had to remove the seller's name from your post. We are not permitted to name sellers here in order to avoid any legal problems regarding libel and defamation. But, yes, I think the consensus here is that you should let this one pass and wait for a genuine one to come along. They do crop up on occasion, as they are somewhat popular, so you may not have to wait too long. 3 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Yes they maybe rare but if you bide your time a better quality specimen will turn up for sale . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatFossilBoy Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 2 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said: Yes they maybe rare but if you bide your time a better quality specimen will turn up for sale . 3 minutes ago, Kane said: Sorry, but I had to remove the seller's name from your post. We are not permitted to name sellers here in order to avoid any legal problems regarding libel and defamation. But, yes, I think the consensus here is that you should let this one pass and wait for a genuine one to come along. They do crop up on occasion, as they are somewhat popular, so you may not have to wait too long. Thanks guys, Sorry for the mistake(New edited message now) Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Just now, DatFossilBoy said: Thanks guys, Sorry for the mistake(New edited message now) Regards Not a problem. I already had fixed it by simply removing the seller's name. 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatFossilBoy Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 2 minutes ago, Kane said: Not a problem. I already had fixed it by simply removing the seller's name. Thanks. Just another thing, isn't it a sign it's authentic if the guy sais it is,can get fined and removed from the site if its not real and accepts returns and repays 100% of money of unsatisfied buyers? I don't know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Just now, DatFossilBoy said: Thanks. Just another thing, isn't it a sign it's authentic if the guy sais it is,can get fined and removed from the site if its not real and accepts returns and repays 100% of money of unsatisfied buyers? I don't know... I don't know the terms of service from the particular auction site you are looking at, but from the ones I do know about the sites act as "distributors" of content with limited liability. In other words, the auction site is not responsible for the authenticity of the items, the accuracy of the description etc., but will intercede if there is a dispute. There are any number of less than reputable sellers on some of these sites that will intentionally sell fake fossils, just as there are sellers who unintentionally sell fake fossils as they may not know much about them. Sadly, there is not much that can be done about the number of fakes out there. Even if there was some kind of purge of inauthentic wares, there are ever more sellers willing to step in and try again. All we can do is educate. I usually take it as a sign that, if someone is trying to convince me that something is authentic, then I am doubly suspicious. It is like talking to someone for the first time and they quickly say, "trust me" or "I won't lie to you." Stuff that we would take as given rarely needs to be stated so quickly and with such over-eager conviction. Or, as the line from Macbeth runs, "methinks the lady doth protest too much." 3 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Here is an Ampyx from my collection. The body is mostly real, but the spines are faked, a better fake, but still a fake. The orange colour is typical of the limonite dusting preservation many Cambrian and Ordovician trilobites from Morocco do have. 5 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatFossilBoy Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 28 minutes ago, Kane said: I don't know the terms of service from the particular auction site you are looking at, but from the ones I do know about the sites act as "distributors" of content with limited liability. In other words, the auction site is not responsible for the authenticity of the items, the accuracy of the description etc., but will intercede if there is a dispute. There are any number of less than reputable sellers on some of these sites that will intentionally sell fake fossils, just as there are sellers who unintentionally sell fake fossils as they may not know much about them. Sadly, there is not much that can be done about the number of fakes out there. Even if there was some kind of purge of inauthentic wares, there are ever more sellers willing to step in and try again. All we can do is educate. I usually take it as a sign that, if someone is trying to convince me that something is authentic, then I am doubly suspicious. It is like talking to someone for the first time and they quickly say, "trust me" or "I won't lie to you." Stuff that we would take as given rarely needs to be stated so quickly and with such over-eager conviction. Or, as the line from Macbeth runs, "methinks the lady doth protest too much." Hahaha. Okay I will follow your advice.Thanks alot for saving my money, I was really going to try it. I hope I will get luckier next time... Thanks everyone for time,effort and advice,It really helped me. Best Regards, Thomas P.S: Do you doubt the authenticity of my Ordovician trilobite(posted in members intro)? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 4 minutes ago, DatFossilBoy said: P.S: Do you doubt the authenticity of my Ordovician trilobite(posted in members intro)? The Asaphus raniceps? No, apart from looking like it has been around the block a few times, and weathered a few seasons, I think it is the real deal. I actually saw that listing, and have perused that seller's other offerings. 4 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 9 minutes ago, DatFossilBoy said: P.S: Do you doubt the authenticity of my Ordovician trilobite(posted in members intro)? No. It is real. It's fairly beat up, missing shell material, but no one would bother faking that. Regards, 2 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...
Tidgy's Dad Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 9 minutes ago, DatFossilBoy said: Hahaha. Okay I will follow your advice.Thanks alot for saving my money, I was really going to try it. I hope I will get luckier next time... Thanks everyone for time,effort and advice,It really helped me. Best Regards, Thomas P.S: Do you doubt the authenticity of my Ordovician trilobite(posted in members intro)? That one's real. 3 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DatFossilBoy Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 30 minutes ago, Kane said: The Asaphus raniceps? No, apart from looking like it has been around the block a few times, and weathered a few seasons, I think it is the real deal. I actually saw that listing, and have perused that seller's other offerings. 29 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said: That one's real. Okay Thanks. Now I just need the back of it to get prepped and it would look amazing. Literally bought it for the price of a supermarket sandwich Regards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchell88 Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 (edited) I have read before, that, it is more difficult to fake the eyes as they have fine details; and the ribbed lines on the bodies, tend to be difficult to reproduce as intricately formed in nature. Also mismatching color being a possible clue. :Edit: Also i have heard that restoration and modeling materials have noticeable pourous identifying textures. Edited February 22, 2018 by Mitchell88 additional comments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 looks fake to me also 1 "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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