Bring your auction to collectors worldwide!
Get listed nowBy subscribing, you are agreeing to the privacy policy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ethnographical / Extra Quality Afghan Lapislazzuli Slice - Natural Royal...
Polished free-form lapis lazuli, richly speckled with golden inclusions — A magnificent specimen of free-form, polished lapis lazuli presents itself, sourced from the historic Afghan mines. This piece, of notable size and weighing over a kilogram, immediately captures attention with its intense, deep blue color, evoking the most precious pigments in the history of art. The surface, expertly worked, offers a sculptural and modern aesthetics, making it a highly impactful visual object. Observing the specimen in detail, one appreciates the superb polish that enhances every chromatic nuance and creates a surface that is almost glassy, smooth to the touch. The dominant color is a royal, deep, saturated blue, the quintessence of high-quality lapis lazuli. On this cobalt-blue background unfolds a fine, sparkling dispersion of pyrite. These golden specks and aggregates, like stardust, create the iconic effect of a “starry night sky.” The mineralogical tableau is completed by veins and areas of white and grayish calcite, traversing the surface like luminous brushstrokes, adding dynamism and bearing witness to the authenticity and complex genesis of the rock. Lapis lazuli is not a single mineral, but a metamorphic rock composed of several minerals. Its unmistakable color is mainly due to the presence of Lazurite, a complex silicate. Its formation occurs through a contact metamorphism process, typically in crystalline limestones following a magmatic intrusion. The mines of Badakhshan province in Afghanistan, active for over 6,000 years, are the oldest and most famous source in the world for this material, and specimens from this region are considered the benchmark for quality. This piece embodies the typical characteristics of such prestigious provenance. Few stones possess such a rich and fascinating history. Since antiquity, lapis lazuli has been regarded as a gemstone of great value, a symbol of royalty, wisdom, and power. The ancient Egyptians used it extensively for jewelry, amulets, and ceremonial objects, as evidenced by Tutankhamun’s famous funerary mask. During the Renaissance, lapis lazuli powder was ground to produce the pigment “ultramarine blue,” the most expensive and sought-after by the great masters of painting. Possessing a specimen like this means safeguarding a fragment of geological and human history. With its organic form and flawless finish, this lapis lazuli qualifies as much as a precious mineralogical collectible piece as it does as a sophisticated design element. It is an ideal object to enrich a contemporary Wunderkammer, a library, or a study, where its sculptural presence and vibrant color can be admired. Its generous size and timeless aesthetics make it a focal point in any environment, able to dialogue with both classical and modern furnishings.
Estimate:£466.67
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorEthnographical
Estimate:
£466.67
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
Bring your auction to collectors worldwide!
Get listed now£1,441.18
