Chrysocolla with Malachite

Item Description

This very large specimen is a truly attractive and complex intergrowth of layers and generations of growth of malachite and chrysocolla of subtly different colors and patterns. This piece is surprisingly complete on the display face, and remarkably undamaged for the size, with curving "horizons " on the top and sides. It was one of the early African mineral exports that started showing up in China in the mid 2000s when China started to dominate mining in the DRC (I know, because I bought it in China and sold it to Jack a bit later!). Jack had never bought one of these styles of rounded chrysocolla or malachite because "they all look the same." He was not wrong. But this was something different, with subtle colors and complexity. He bought this as a big anchor piece, as most of his cases had a big piece in the middle, and a row of large specimens in the top shelves to add color to his room. Valued $5000-plus.