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All auctions / Ethnographical / Striking White Celestine Crystal Flower on a Dark Gray...
Refined Wood Base - Chrysanthemum Stone - Andalusite — This lot presents a magnificent Chrysanthemum Stone, a specimen of remarkable size that exemplifies the perfect harmony between natural art and artisanal craftsmanship. Originating from China, the stone has been skilfully worked to highlight its most fascinating feature: a white crystalline formation that blossoms like a flower from a dark matrix. Mounted on an elegant turned wood base, this piece stands as a collectible object and a decorative item with great visual impact and geological meaning. The specimen has a smooth oval shape that enhances its volume and sculptural presence. The matrix consists of a limestone rock in an intense slate gray color, whose smooth surface is interrupted by fine lighter veins that tell of its complex history. From this deep and solid base emerges, in a dramatic bas-relief, the “flower” of the mineral. The Celestina crystals, chalk-white, unfold in a perfectly radial structure, drawing the petals of a chrysanthemum in full bloom. Careful observation reveals delicate gray streaks inside the crystals, which confer depth and an almost organic realism to the formation. The genesis of these extraordinary natural sculptures dates back to the Permian Period, about 270 million years ago. In ancient and deep seabeds, anoxic conditions and the presence of sediments rich in organic matter led to the formation of calcium carbonate concretions. Within these masses, diagenetic processes related to pressure and temperature triggered the growth of Celestina (Strontium Sulfate) crystals, arranged in a radial pattern. The floral motif is therefore not a fossil plant, but the fascinating imprint of a geologic event lasting millions of years. The specimen we see is the result of meticulous human intervention. Once the rock block was extracted, skilled Chinese artisans identified the internal crystal concretion. With extreme patience and precision, they removed the surrounding calcitic matrix, “digging” around each petal to bring the three-dimensional flower to light. This technique not only requires a deep material knowledge to avoid damaging the fragile crystals, but essentially transforms a geological curiosity into a work of art. The glossy finish of the matrix further enhances the powerful color contrast. In Asian culture, Chrysanthemum Stones are appreciated as “suiseki” or contemplative stones, capable of evoking the ephemeral beauty of nature through the permanence of rock. This piece, due to its significant size and the clarity of the design, represents a superb example of mineral art. It is an object destined to enrich a Wunderkammer, a library or a study, but also capable of dialoguing with contemporary interiors, carrying the charm of a geologic history almost inconceivable. **Technical details** * **Name:** Chrysanthemum Stone (Celestina concretion on calcitic matrix) * **Origin:** China * **Dimensions:** 275 x 175 x 100 mm (excluding base) * **Weight:** 4912 g (excluding base) * **Base:** Turned and lacquered wood, included with the lot. * **Condition:** Natural specimen, worked by hand to expose the crystalline formation in bas-relief. The surface is polished.
Estimate:£1,187.9
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorEthnographical
Estimate:
£1,187.9
OCT 8 | 3:00 PM
OCT 8 | 3:00 PM
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
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