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All auctions / Ethnographic / New Jade - Serpentine Sphere with Waves of Sage Green and...
Large Polished 'New Jade' Serpentine Sphere with Pink and Green Bands from Zimbabwe — This lot presents a magnificent and imposing sphere carved from a single block of Serpentine sourced from Zimbabwe. Commercially known by evocative names such as "New Jade" or "Butter Jade", this material here is worked into a geometrically perfect form that serves as a three-dimensional canvas for a geological spectacle of rare beauty. The surface, impeccably mirror-polished, highlights a complex weave of chromatic banding that wraps around the entire volume, turning the sphere into a small abstract planet. Careful observation reveals a sophisticated and unusual chromatic dialogue. Wavy bands of delicate sage green alternate and blend with surprising levels of antique pink and blush, a combination rarely observed in nature with such harmony. These colored layers are separated by bands of ivory and cream white, which impart brightness and depth to the whole. The arrangement of the bands is never monotonous: they thicken, thin, and bend, creating patterns that recall abstract landscapes, imaginary topographic maps, or even concentric rings that form evocative "geological eyes" on some sides of the sphere. The formation of this Serpentine is the result of intense metamorphic processes. The immense pressures and temperatures deep within the Earth’s crust have realigned the original minerals into distinct layers, a process known as foliation. The different colorations attest to variations in the chemical composition of the material during its genesis, with the presence of various oxides and silicates that gave rise to this exceptional polychromy. The thin fracture lines visible on the surface are authentic testaments to the geological history of the rock, sealed naturally during metamorphism, and contribute to the unique charm of the specimen. As a collectible object and design piece, this sphere possesses undeniable appeal. Its archetypal form, a symbol of completeness and perfection, makes it a focal point with great visual impact. It is an ideal piece to enrich a modern Wunderkammer, a library, or a study, where it can be admired from every angle. The chromatic pairing of green and pink, together with the perfection of artisanal craftsmanship, elevates this specimen from a simple mineral object to a true natural sculpture—an earth-sculpted piece of design finished by man.
Estimate:$225.18
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorEthnographic
Estimate:
$225.18
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