Botryoidal Amethyst

Item Description

Fanciful, variably-colored, 360-degree "grape" amethyst from recent finds in Indonesia. Lavender translucent botryoids dominate the front of this very sculptural piece with contrasting gray botryoids on the flanks. The back is decidedly different with three color styles and layers of botryoids: lavender balls at the top; a line of gray balls; and the remainder being clay-coated or oxide-coated balls. These caused a major stir at recent shows and are certainly beautiful, colorful and artistically fine specimens. Botryoidal amethyst is quite rare worldwide. Analysis by Dr. George Rossman at Caltech concluded these should be labeled as amethyst, and not chalcedony or agate. An artistic and highly representative cabinet example. The small attachment is at the base of the piece. Otherwise, the piece is pristine. See the fine article in 2018 The Mineralogical Record issue, Vol. 49, No. 6, pp. 827-836. This showy, unusually colorful and rich 360-degree piece has two fine display views.