Down the Rabbit Hole - Large Drusy Quartz Geode on Bronze Stand
Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil
This magnificent and unique drusy quartz geode is a discovery from Rio Grande do Sul, an area of Brazil in which amethyst is typically found. It represents a very uncommon occurrence: The color of the crystals is distinctly uncharacteristic of minerals from this locality; drusy crystals are generally found in smaller specimens, whereas the present specimen weighs approximately 350 pounds; and, perhaps most significantly, its beauty is astonishing. The spectacular geode specimen exhibits sparkling drusy quartz crystals throughout, with aesthetically pleasing dimensionality provided by its fascinating texture. Drusy is an aggregate, that is, a clustering, of fine prismatic crystals growing from within a cavity. The whimsical name of the piece relates to the presence of a small hole in the back portion of the geode; a tiny piece has been removed to provide a source of natural light, and also so that one may gaze through it, in wonder, at the glittering quartz-filled cavity--much like Alice looking down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. Displaying a polished front rim, the stunning geode rests on a hand-fabricated bronze stand with ferric patina, producing a splendid synergy of mineral and metal. Designed by renowned lapidary artist, Lawrence Stoller.
Lawrence Stoller is an internationally recognized, award-winning gem sculptor who has pioneered the art of cutting spectacular megagems. Among his museum quality works are several of the largest gemstones in existence. His work has been featured in numerous galleries in the United States, from Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles to Fifth Avenue in New York, and in exhibitions in the United States, Asia and Europe, including the Furstman Institute of Mineralogy in Moscow, Russia, the Gemological Institute of America, the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, the Carnegie Museum and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. In 2003, Stoller completed the centerpiece of the 9/11 “Eleven Tears Memorial,” located across the street from Ground Zero in New York. Specimen measures approximately 40 x 30in. Total height on stand 69in
