When EllaDee read our old post on the Somerville Museum in Bathurst, she suggested that we visit Dove and Lyre in nearby Newtown.
This store is amazing. It was full of exquisite specimens, all for sale, ranging in price from $10 for a tiny fossilised fern, to $38,000 for the complete dinosaur skeleton below (click on the photo for a better look)…
I was very taken with the astonishing detail in these crinoids (“sea lilies”). Sadly, the $2,150 price tag was beyond my budget, but lovely owner Rob was happy to let me take as many photos as I wanted (click on the pic for an enlargement)…
A stunning disc of petrified wood…
I have a great weakness for ammonites, and we have several in our collection. I know it sounds expensive, but $240 for the large matched pair below is actually very reasonable for something that is both unique and between 65 to 400 million years old (I didn’t buy them, Pete said no)…
This massive amethyst geode is priced at over $10k, but that includes all the pieces and the table…
By contrast, a palm-sized trilobite fossil costs as little as $15 – every child should have one…
This septarian nodule stone (also known as a “dragonstone”) is between 50 to 70 million years old…
We’d never seen such large orthoceras fossils for sale…
More ammonites on offer…
…including this magnificent specimen…
Rob showed us a giant crystallised geode, which serendipitously matched his shirt…
Dove and Lyre isn’t a huge store, but it’s packed with treasure…
As well as the fossils and minerals, they also offer a wide range of handmade jewellery, as well as beading supplies…
So…what did we buy?
I couldn’t resist adding this unusual, palm-sized ammonite fossil to our collection. It’s incredibly detailed, with imprints of small marine animals over all sides of the rock…
Pete was very taken with this iridescent piece of labradorite, so we brought it home…
Fossilised ferns from Mazon Creek in Illinois. Both pieces are around 300 million years old, and they were very reasonably priced – the small one at the front was just $10…
Finally, this wonderful piece of shale from the Green River Formation in the Rocky Mountains (USA). We have a herring fossil from there, so I was chuffed to be able to add this one to our mantlepiece.
At first, I thought it was painted artwork, but it’s actually a natural crystal formation that grows into a plant-like pattern. This is the front…
…and this is the back. The detailing is incredibly fine and intricate…
Dove and Lyre is based at 459 King Street, Newtown, and run by the charming Rob and his lovely wife (and “boss-lady”) Di. They’re opened very civilized hours: 12pm – 5pm Tuesday to Friday, 11am – 5pm Saturday, and 11am to 4pm Sundays. They’re more than happy for folks to spend hours browsing, so long as they don’t break anything!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
What a collection! I used to have a bit of an obsession with amethyst when I was younger. I had some very pretty little pieces.
Claire, let Will know that there’s a $10,500 geode with your name on it.. :D
What a find! Love the detail in those fossilised lilies. We used to occasionally find trilobites in creek beds in southern Ohio where we grew up. Some houses there are actually built with fossil stone in the walls. We lived in one when I was a small girl. Those geodes are gorgeous too, all of it really. Thanks for sharing.
Ardys, how cool to find trilobites in creek beds! And to be able to see fossils in the walls of houses!
Beautiful- I love the big pricey items- but the ones you chose are so intimate and endearing! They fit with you!
Thanks Heidi, they were only small, but they do indeed fit very well with the other pieces on our mantelpiece!
Oh my goodness, what a treasure trove, Celia!
Great place to spend time contemplating the age of the planet, Liz! :)
I so agree with the others that place is a treasure trove, such amazing collection. How was the specimens collected and not damaged?
Norma, the really amazing pieces were very expensive (although not as expensive as I expected) – I guess that reflects the rarity of getting such old fossils in great condition!
I’m so pleased you liked Dove & Lyre. The people are nice, always happy to chat, and were really helpful with my Christmas shopping for the G.O. We’ve bought a few smaller items but managed to avoid – so far – temptation on the larger. The store is a great addition to King Street and just diverting to spend some time browsing the wonders.
ED, it’s such a hidden treasure, who could expect a $38000 dinosaur fossil in the middle of Newtown? Thanks so much for putting us on to them!
Wow, these are cool. My hub would go crazy. Hugs, Maz
Maz, he really would! Some amazing old petrified wood pieces there he’d love!
What a lovely tour. So many interesting things and I can’t believe the age of some of the pieces! I love the colour of the item Pete bought. The petrified wood is stunning. I think a lot of us would like to work from 12-5! xx
Charlie, the labradorite is iridescent, so when the light is at the right angle, it positively glows!
What a fabulous collection, I love these things
Thanks Deb, so do we! :)
My heart sings – the information will be stored – I hope for but a short duration!!!!
It’s a great place to visit!
Hehe now these people have the right idea about hours! None of this early morning stuff :) What an interesting store!
It’s particularly interesting if you’re interested in rocks! :D
What a cool store! I thought it was a museum at first. The fossils are beautiful. Love the shale fossil. I used to have something similar but not such a nice piece of shale. There were fossil beds not far from where we used to live…
Manuela, I think a lot of the locals treat it like a museum! I saw mothers bringing their kids in just to look at the dinosaur! :D
What amazing pieces! I’m always amazed to look at the detail in fossils. They say that nature is the greatest artist and you have demonstrated that so well in this post.
Thanks for stopping by, Deb! As you say, the detailing in the pieces is astonishing!
Such an interesting store to spend a little time browsing or purchasing a little treasure.
Karen, I really liked the fact that I could get a little fossil for $10, in the same shop that was selling a giant amethyst geode for $10.5K!
Gee, that looks like fun. I can imagine spending hours in a place like that.
Glenda, we’ll add it to the list of places to visit next time! :D
They’re all so beautiful and interesting. I’d never, ever seen anything like that store… a place where they sell fossils etc. – amazing !!
Cecile, I’ve never seen one either – we usually buy our fossils at museums! And they don’t just sell fossils, they sell incredibly fancy and expensive ones! :)
Each one is a truly unique and gorgeous work of art!
Littlej would just love this place too Celia, she loves fossils and geos and all this cool awesomeness xox
You’ll have to bring her up for a visit one of these days, Becca! xx
Hi Celia, thanks so much for posting this. Have shown hubby this post, we have never heard of this store and it’s right up his alley we will have to make a visit. I think some of the pricing is quite reasonable. The fronds are so detailed, that is a beautiful piece.
Stefanie, I think the pricing is very reasonable too, especially considering that every piece is unique. Just to give you some idea, the little frond shale piece cost me $28. Hope you and your hubby enjoy the shop (but please tell him not to blame me if this turns into another situation like Moya’s shop, which you and I both have trouble exercising restraint in!) :)
Thanks Celia, goodness that is very good pricing can’t wait to visit. I think we will bring our 10 year old nephew as he would find it very interesting. I just love Moya’s store, I wish I could buy more :)
Stefanie, Moya’s due to have her baby any day now! We popped in for a visit recently – photos coming up in tomorrow’s post! :)
What an interesting place to visit…I could imagine my children loving the store…although it might be a challenge preventing them from breaking anything! :)
Laila, it’s an interesting place, but yes, not touching is tricky for little ones! :)
What an incredible place. You really did a great job with the photos, showing the detail on these. Every one I looked at I thought “oh, would I love that one”, and then I see the next one & want that one even more. I have to say that disc of petrified wood is maybe my favorite. How in the world did you ever decide on just a couple pieces though with so much to chose from?
Thanks Diane – all taken on the iPhone too! :) I kept thinking that the petrified wood would make a wonderful side table or something, but it weighed a ton (and cost a fortune). It did take us a long time to choose, but I had a relative small budget (in fossil terms), so we could only afford a few small pieces. The labradorite is amazing – it glows the most amazing blue in the right light!
Oooh I would love a look round that shop with my little man.
It’s like visiting a museum! :)
Wow, I could spend all their opening hours just strolling around and wishing. I’m sorry Pete said no on that gorgeous piece. Maybe next year.