Hematite ps. Marcasite (Whitmore Coll.)

Item Description

Fantastically sculptural, strongly skewed hematite after marcasite from the White Desert. Most stellate specimens from here are much more equant. The 4.0 cm spike and two diverging "legs" dominate this striking 360-degree piece. This a nodule of nubby, lustrous, nicely burnished brown, layered spearpoints. These were originally formed as marcasite crystals on the sea bottom and were then pseudomophed, retaining their fantastic form. They were dug in the remote western desert of southwest Egypt by Parisian dealer Alain Carion and his son in the mid-1990s. Even with a bit of bruising or contacting, this is a very exotic and rare style example. No more have been found. Ex Robert Whitmore Collection. Every turn presents a different perspective to this fascinating piece!