Dioptase on Calcite (Halpern Coll.)

Item Description

This is a majestic miniature featuring a dramatic, centered crystal of emerald-green dioptase, standing straight up and against white calcite. You cannot ask for much better aesthetics than this. This is THE classic style, still sought after all these years later, from the mid 1980s, that has stood the test of time. Although dioptase came from other regions since (notably Russia and several other mines in Namibia), the association and visual contrast on white calcite still sets the mid-1980s Tsumeb dioptase specimens at the top of the list for any collector. This is a stunning miniature with the composition, the color, the luster. It has only a few very, very small dings and chips on the tip of the dioptase central crystal, although these are not visible from any distance at all. The central crystal is just over 2 cm tall, nearly an inch total in combination with the smaller crystals it sits on, adding a significance of size here. Bluntly, this is a miniature that is almost world class and five figures in value, if not for a few trivial dings. That being said, it looks amazing on the shelf and is still a significant specimen, considering it is nearly 40 years old and otherwise in great condition without repairs or restorations. From the collection of Jack Halpern.