Natural History

The Natural History department conducts three auctions per year, firmly establishing Bonhams as the forerunner in the field internationally. An extraordinarily wide range of categories are offered, including: mineral specimens; fossils, including dinosauria, petrified wood, amber and ammolite; unmounted faceted gemstones, including rare phenomenal gemstones; gold; meteorites; lapidary, archaeological stone artefacts; mounts and animal, plant, insect and shell specimens, pearls and coral, and natural history-related decor and curiosities.

With consignments culled from private collections, palaeontologists, fossil preparators, quarry and mine owners, the auctions are successful in providing specimens that are fresh to the market.

Highlights from past auctions

Sold for US$ 116,500 inc. premium
Rare, Large and Fine Purple-Pink Sapphire
Sold for US$ 80,500 inc. premium
Important Suite of Fossil Clam Shell Crystal Opal and Pink Diamond Jewel--"Memoirs of the Ocean"
Sold for US$ 98,500 inc. premium
Ruby, Obsidian and Rock Crystal Quartz Chess Set-"The Frog Prince"
Sold for US$ 116,500 inc. premium
Large Gold Nugget