Beneath the sands of Fontainebleau, France, nature sculpted the extraordinary gogottes — rare sandstone formations admired for their graceful, flowing shapes. Once cherished by Louis XIV and displayed at Versailles, these geological wonders continue to captivate with their beauty and mystery.
AN INTRODUCTION TO GOGOTTE
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A gogotte is a rare and beautiful natural formation of sandstone, found in the sand quarries around Fontainebleau, France. Unlike ordinary sandstone, a gogotte is a smooth, sinuous, often sculptural concretion that looks almost like a modern abstract sculpture. These formations are prized both for their aesthetic beauty and their geological uniqueness.
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The origin of gogotte stones lies in a rare geological process that took place about 32 million years ago, during the Oligocene epoch.
At that time, the area around present-day Fontainebleau, France, was covered by vast sand dunes. Silica-rich groundwater slowly seeped through these sands. As the water evaporated or cooled, the dissolved silica (quartz) began to precipitate, binding the sand grains together and forming solid sandstone.
Over time, as this mineral-laden water moved and swirled through the loose sand, it created the intricate, curving, and layered shapes we now see in gogottes — like frozen whirlpools of sand.
This geological process occurred during two cold periods of the Quaternary, one occurring 300,000 years ago and the other between 50,000 and 30,000 years ago.So, gogottes are essentially silica-cemented sandstone concretions, formed by the unique combination of Fontainebleau’s ancient dune sands and mineral-rich water under just the right conditions.
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Gogottes in their iconic, intricate forms are unique to the Fontainebleau sands. While other sandstone concretions exist in different parts of the world, the specific conditions of the Fontainebleau region—its ancient dune sands and silica-rich groundwater—produced the distinctive, smooth, flowing shapes that are not found elsewhere in quite the same way.
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During the reign of Louis XIV of France, known as the Sun King, gogottes became highly fashionable. The Sun King and his court adored these striking natural sculptures for their unusual and graceful forms. Many gogottes were commissioned similar gogottes to be excavated for his gardens. The ornately rounded, scrolling formations—somewhat Baroque in design—have been restored to their original state surrounding the mysterious Grove of the Three Fountains designed by Le Nôtre in 1677.
Loved by the Sun King and inspired by several artists, Henry Moore and French Surrealists. These gogottes are mesmerizing. The curves and how they fow over in each other, like water frozen in sand. The perfect statement piece for your interior.
INTERESTING FACTS
They are unique to Fontainebleau.
While sandstone concretions form in other places, the intricate, flowing, almost baroque shapes of gogottes are only found in the Fontainebleau sands — nowhere else on Earth produces them quite like this.
Some gogottes are huge.
While many are small enough to hold, some of the specimens collected for Versailles were over several feet wide and hundreds of kilograms in weight, creating striking focal points in the gardens.
They inspired art and design.
Their natural curves and abstract forms have been compared to works by modern sculptors like Brancusi and Henry Moore. Many contemporary artists and designers cite gogottes as inspiration.
They were once thought to have magical powers.
In earlier times, people believed gogottes had protective or healing properties, perhaps because of their mysterious shapes and rare occurrence.
They’re very pure quartz.
Unlike many sandstones, which are mixed with clays and other minerals, gogottes are unusually pure — made of up to 98% silica (quartz), which makes them very hard and durable.
Excavation is tricky.
Gogottes are fragile when first removed from the sand and need careful handling and sometimes stabilization before they can be displayed or sold.
They are highly collectible.
Today, gogottes appear in museums (like the Louvre and the Smithsonian) and are sought after by collectors worldwide, fetching impressive prices at auction.
While sandstone concretions form in other places, the intricate, flowing, almost baroque shapes of gogottes are only found in the Fontainebleau sands — nowhere else on Earth produces them quite like this.
Some gogottes are huge.
While many are small enough to hold, some of the specimens collected for Versailles were over several feet wide and hundreds of kilograms in weight, creating striking focal points in the gardens.
They inspired art and design.
Their natural curves and abstract forms have been compared to works by modern sculptors like Brancusi and Henry Moore. Many contemporary artists and designers cite gogottes as inspiration.
They were once thought to have magical powers.
In earlier times, people believed gogottes had protective or healing properties, perhaps because of their mysterious shapes and rare occurrence.
They’re very pure quartz.
Unlike many sandstones, which are mixed with clays and other minerals, gogottes are unusually pure — made of up to 98% silica (quartz), which makes them very hard and durable.
Excavation is tricky.
Gogottes are fragile when first removed from the sand and need careful handling and sometimes stabilization before they can be displayed or sold.
They are highly collectible.
Today, gogottes appear in museums (like the Louvre and the Smithsonian) and are sought after by collectors worldwide, fetching impressive prices at auction.
