Calcite (''butterfly'' twins with iron oxide inclusions) (ex Kurt Hefendehl Collection)

Item Description

Sometimes you see a mineral specimen that you swear looks like it was sculpted. That is definitely the case with this piece, as it almost looks like a combination of natural life and crystallized minerals coming together. A pair of sharp, well-formed, robust "butterfly"-twinned Calcites measuring up to 8.7 cm across are intergrown to create this showy and aesthetic display specimen. To top it off, the Calcites feature dark reddish-brown iron oxide inclusions which make for a stellar contrast against the original white hue of the crystals. I can see a few minor imperfections, but the piece is in great shape all over, even the bottom/underside of the piece is partially crystallized. This is certainly one of the most eye-catching Calcites from Leiping that we've ever had to offer, you just don't see pieces like this very often. Priced in the inventory at $3,500. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl, a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the next two to three years through our various platforms.