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All auctions / Ethnographical / Deep Blue Sodalite with Intricate White Calcite Veining...


A mineral art object with intense blue tones and contrasting veining — This specimen represents a meticulously carved and polished decorative basin, worked from a natural block of Sodalite, a feldspathoid mineral renowned for its distinctive deep blue color. The object, originating from Brazil, has been shaped to enhance its organic form and chromatic richness, making it a piece with great visual and tactile impact. The formation of Sodalite in this context indicates crystallization in igneous rocks intrusives or metamorphic rocks, often associated with nepheline and other alkaline minerals, which contribute to its complex structure. The polished surface reveals a stunning palette of blue, ranging from midnight blue to purplish blue and darker shades, deeply infused with veining and inclusions. These inclusions appear as irregular bands and textures of white, gray, and milky tones, often attributable to calcite or other accessory minerals. The contrast between the deep blue of Sodalite and the brightness of the light veins creates a dynamic, almost painterly effect, highlighting the mineral's geology and its interactions with other crystal phases during formation. Geologically, Brazilian Sodalite is especially valued for its quality and vivid coloration, setting it apart from other sources. The white veining, in particular, indicates hydrothermal or contact metamorphic processes that affected the mineral block, enriching it with deposits of calcite. This piece is not only a decorative object but a tangible witness to the planet’s complex geological history, offering insights into alteration and mineral deposition stages. The work has given the piece an inward concave shape, carved with a broad and harmonious curve, while the exterior maintains a compact and sculptural appearance. The thickness of the walls and the overall volume give the object a solid, authoritative presence. The careful polishing not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also protects the surface, highlighting the microstructure and the random or oriented arrangement of sodalite crystals and associated minerals. The specimen is in natural and impeccably worked condition, with no signs of damage or post-production alterations. Every detail of its surface reflects the care with which it was selected and transformed. Although it does not require a specific stand, its flat base ensures stability on any surface, making it versatile for display. This object represents a notable addition to any high-level mineralogical or lapidary collection. The combination of significant size, the chromatic intensity of Sodalite, the distinctive natural veining, and the refined artisanal craftsmanship elevate it to a desirable specimen. Its uniqueness and aesthetic value make it a focal point in any setting, whether a private study, a mineral art gallery, or a display case for ornamental hard stones, standing out among similar specimens for its exceptional quality and visual impact.”} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } }}}
Estimate:£1,527.3
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Estimate:
£1,527.3

OCT 17 | 10:00 PM

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£170.26
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