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Lot 8221
Spodumene on Feldspar—“The Sword in the Stone”
4 December 2005, 11:00 PST
Los AngelesSold for US$14,100 inc. premium
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Find your local specialistSpodumene on Feldspar—“The Sword in the Stone”
Pech, Nuristan, Afghanistan
A remarkable specimen from a notable collection, this is an example of a superior gem-quality crystal of spodumene, with a sharp termination and virtually “window-pane” transparency it is suffused with a pale green hue. Most spodumene crystals have "fuzzy" etched terminations, however, this one exhibits the true crystallographic perfection which is most rare in the material. Furthermore, it rises from a crystallized matrix of a large feldspar. Matrix spodumenes are not frequently seen or, when they are, they appear visually “jumbled” and lacking in aesthetics. The present specimen is exceptional for the superb composition of the associated minerals and is fully three-dimensional and viewable from all sides. The spodume appears as though “impaled” in the feldspar. Specimen retrieval of material of this caliber is declining throughout the Afghani region, thus stellar specimens such as this one are more difficult to acquire then they were ten years ago. Measuring 7 ½ x 6 ½ x 6 ½ in.
A remarkable specimen from a notable collection, this is an example of a superior gem-quality crystal of spodumene, with a sharp termination and virtually “window-pane” transparency it is suffused with a pale green hue. Most spodumene crystals have "fuzzy" etched terminations, however, this one exhibits the true crystallographic perfection which is most rare in the material. Furthermore, it rises from a crystallized matrix of a large feldspar. Matrix spodumenes are not frequently seen or, when they are, they appear visually “jumbled” and lacking in aesthetics. The present specimen is exceptional for the superb composition of the associated minerals and is fully three-dimensional and viewable from all sides. The spodume appears as though “impaled” in the feldspar. Specimen retrieval of material of this caliber is declining throughout the Afghani region, thus stellar specimens such as this one are more difficult to acquire then they were ten years ago. Measuring 7 ½ x 6 ½ x 6 ½ in.
Footnotes
Accompanied by a collection label from noted gem collector Eugene Meieran of Phoenix, Arizona.