Vivid Green Banded Calcite Sphere with Translucent Layers...

Tones of green, cream and orange in complex natural stratifications. — This lot features a sphere of impressive size and weight, expertly carved from a single block of precious Green Banded Calcite from Mexico. Known commercially as "Green Onyx", this variety of calcite is valued for its complex sedimentary stratifications, which in this specimen create a fascinating geological landscape. The spherical form, a symbol of perfection and wholeness, maximizes the natural patterns of the stone, turning it into a sculptural object of great visual impact, resting on an elegant ring-supported metal base. Close inspection of the surface, mirror-polished to a vitreous luster, reveals an universe of details. The dominant coloration is a deep and variegated green, ranging from sage tones to deeper shades of jade and olive. These green bands are interspersed with wavy layers of cream, ivory and translucent white, giving the sphere notable three-dimensional depth. Through these layers, finer veins and orange-rust color inclusions, due to iron oxides, trace sinuous lines and concentric "eyes", testimony to the fluid dynamics that characterized the mineral’s formation. Green Banded Calcite forms through a slow deposition process. Groundwater rich in calcium carbonate and other minerals percolates inside cavities in the rock. Over thousands of years, calcium carbonate precipitates, depositing layer upon layer. Changes in the water’s chemical composition, such as the presence of different metal ions (iron, magnesium), determine the color variations, creating the bands that make each specimen unique. This sphere is therefore a geological archive that tells an ancient story, condensed into a perfectly geometric form. Beyond its unquestionable scientific and educational value, this specimen stands out as a sophisticated decorative element. Its considerable weight and substantial size make it a focal point in any environment, ideal for a study, a library or a gallery. Its aesthetics, straddling the primordial and contemporary design, qualify it as a piece for a modern Wunderkammer, an object capable of stimulating curiosity and contemplation. The interaction between the pure geometric form, man-made, and the organized chaos of nature contained within it, generates an aesthetically captivating dialog. Technical details Name: Green Banded Calcite Sphere (commercially known as Green Onyx) Classification: Mineral, Calcite Origin: Mexico Dimensions: 151 x 151 x 151 mm Weight: 4945 g Base: The lot includes a brass-toned metal ring base. Dimensions and weight refer to the sphere alone. Conditions: Specimen in excellent condition, worked and polished. The visible internal fracture lines and inclusions are natural characteristics of the mineral and should not be considered defects, but rather testimony to its geological history. Treatments: Only cutting and polishing. No other treatment.

Estimate:$477.57

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