Cinnabar on Dolomite & Quartz (Wally Mann Coll.)

Item Description

Three, splendent, interpenetrating, drillbit-twinned, cinnabar crystals are aestheticaly set on a sculptural plate of glassy quartz needles and nicely accented with cream-colored dolomite rhombs on this outstanding specimen from Tongren, China, the premier locality for fine cinnabar crystals. The superb, central crystal is 1.8 cm and all three crystals have this beautiful, "ruby-silver" look to them, just like proustite or pyragyrite crystals! The striking center and left crystals are pristine. The right crystal"s termination is pristine and the periphery contacting on the side is mostly out of sight. Ex Wally Mann Collection. Wally bought this gorgeous piece from Bill Larson at the Pala Properties office in Fallbrook in 1985, just when specimens from China were starting to reach the market. Wally paid a premium of $3500 for this piece, because of the quality and rarity of fine Chinese cinnabars at that time. This piece still remains today an outstanding example of the combination species and locale. Comes with a custom-made and engraved lucite base valued at $100 as a free bonus. Fairly valued today at $1500 because more came out later, but is still as fine a quality as you can ask in the size