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Dioptase (circa 1900) Soregaroli Coll.
- Reneville, Pool Department, Republic of Congo
- Small Cabinet, 7.0 x 6.5 x 6.3 cm
- Start Time: 09/01/2014 9:30:00 am (CDT)
- End Time: 09/04/2014 6:30:00 pm (CDT)
- Auction Closed
Item Description
Gemmy and lustrous, deep emerald-green dioptase crystals line a sculptural vug on this showy and excellent older specimen from Reneville. These crystals are a bit richer green than Tsumeb dioptase and the rich dioptase matrix is distinctive to Reneville. They are up to about 1.6 cm long. The piece was found during the French expeditionary times of the late 1800s and early 1900s by the French colonial geological exploratory bureau BRGM (and have seen some such labels turn up on the market with Moroccan material, from time to time, which confirms this). Ex Art Soregaroli Collection. Valued at $1000.