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Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ethnographic / Brazilian Amethyst Sphere with Deep Violet Crystals...
A sphere carved from a natural amethyst druzy from Brazil — This imposing specimen is a solid sphere carved from a Brazilian amethyst geode, an object that blends the geometric perfection of human craftsmanship with the sublime architecture of nature. With a diameter of 140 mm and a substantial weight of over 3.2 kg, the sphere stands out as a piece with great stage presence. Its most fascinating feature is the wide central cavity, an open window into the heart of the original geode, revealing a sparkling world of amethyst crystals. The cavity's interior is an explosion of violet quartz crystals, whose prismatic terminations catch and reflect light from countless angles. The violet tones are rich and saturated, ranging from intense, deep shades in the inner areas to more delicate, translucent hues toward the exterior. This natural druzy, left intact, allows appreciation of the original crystal growth, offering a three-dimensional spectacle of great visual impact and a strong contrast with the outer smooth surface. The outer portion of the sphere has been masterfully polished to reveal the geode's full geological history. One can observe the concentric bands of agate and chalcedony that make up the mineral's 'crust', with delicate gray, white and sometimes bluish hues. This smooth, cool-to-the-touch surface envelops the crystalline core, creating an aesthetic dialogue between rough material and worked form, between the orderly chaos of crystals and the sleekness of the spherical shape. The genesis of such a natural masterpiece dates back millions of years, to Brazil's lava flows. Bubbles of gas trapped in the lava as it solidified created cavities, the future geodes. Over geological eras, silica-rich hydrothermal solutions infiltrated them, slowly depositing layers of chalcedony and, finally, allowing quartz crystals to grow. The characteristic violet coloration is the result of trace amounts of iron within the crystal structure, activated by a natural irradiation process in the subsurface. This specimen represents an exceptional piece for both mineral collectors and lovers of natural design objects. Its duality makes it a perfect item for a Wunderkammer or 'cabinet of curiosities', capable of furnishing an study, a library, or a contemporary space with elegance. It is a tribute to geological beauty, a fragment of Earth's history transformed into an object of contemplation that unites natural art and artisanal craftsmanship.
Estimate:$731.14
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorEthnographic
Estimate:
$731.14
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Coco-fesse or Cocotier de mer (Lodoicea maldivica) (III/C) p - Lot 332
06/12/2026
$510.82
Est: $464.46
