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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ethnographical / Red Brecciated Agate with Crystalline Quartz Voids...
atural Beauty — This lot presents a magnificent sphere of agate from Madagascar, an island famed for its geological treasures. The specimen stands out for its remarkable and complex brecciated structure, offering a visually striking display of rare intensity. The spherical shaping, carried out with great mastery, transforms this fragment of Earth's history into a sculptural object of great elegance, allowing appreciation of every detail from a 360-degree perspective. A careful observation reveals the mineral's chromatic and structural richness. The surface, mirror-polished, is a mosaic of angular agate clasts in warm terracotta red and burnt orange tones, traversed by thin darker veining. These fragments are immersed and cemented by a matrix of translucent chalcedony, ranging from milky white to pale blue-gray, creating a high-contrast colorscape. The true soul of the piece is revealed by the small geode-like cavities dotted across the surface: inside these openings, a carpet of sparkling druzy quartz microcrystals catches and reflects light, adding a touch of brilliance to the sphere's compactness. Geologically speaking, this sphere is a veritable textbook. Its brecciate structure tells a story of tumultuous geological events. Originally, an agate deposit formed within a cavity of volcanic rock. Subsequently, powerful tectonic forces or internal pressures fractured this primigenial formation. In a later phase, silica-rich hydrothermal fluids filtered through the cracks, cementing the fragments and depositing chalcedony and crystalline quartz in the voids. The result is an aggregate that bears witness to a process of breakage and subsequent geological “healing.” Transforming a block of brecciated agate, with its varying hardness and cavities, into a perfectly polished sphere requires considerable artisanal skill. The sphere’s pure geometric form highlights the organic complexity of the natural pattern, making this piece a fascinating object of study and contemplation. Its size and weight confer it with a substantial presence, turning it into a focal point both in a collecting context and in interior design. This specimen represents a valuable addition to any mineral collection, especially for those who appreciate agates with unusual characteristics or the worked shapes that enhance their intrinsic beauty. It is an ideal piece for a modern Wunderkammer, a study, a library, or as a sculptural decorative element in a contemporary interior, capable of engaging with the surrounding space and telling an ancient geological story spanning millions of years. Technical details Name: Brecciated Agate Classification: Calcedony (Microcrystalline Quartz) Origin: Madagascar Dimensions: 80 x 80 x 80 mm Weight: 662 g Material: Natural Mineral Base: Not included Condition: The specimen is natural. The cavities and fissures, partially filled with quartz crystals, are intrinsic and natural features of the mineral and should not be considered imperfections.
Estimate:£186.87
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorEthnographical
Estimate:
£186.87
OCT 8 | 3:00 PM
OCT 8 | 3:00 PM
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