Montana Agate (ex Willard Wulff Collection)

Item Description

I'm sure that everybody has heard of Agate, but it's important to note that it's not an actual species, but rather a banded variety of chalcedony or microcrystalline Quartz which forms in layers in a remarkable variety of colors and textures. Agate was famous for centuries in Europe as the famous gem district of Idar-Oberstein, Germany had superb Agate mines, and agate carving there has a long tradition which continues to this day. Indeed Agate has an even longer history, since the Egyptians used Agate as a gemstone more than 3,000 years ago. But one of the most well known forms from Montana is highly sought after amongst collectors. High quality Montana Agates can be as impressive in their play of color and beautiful patterns. Agate is suitable for any kind of jewelry, including rings. This "Oval" Cabochon gem is a good example of this well known material, showing wonderful forms against and a background with golden, orange and nearly colorless hues. Good quality and size, and beloved in the Agate collecting community. The gem comes from the collection of Willard W. Wulff Sr. (1904-1998) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a prominent figure and collector of Colorado minerals. Wulff was one of the founding members of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society in 1936. You can read Willard's bio on the Mineralogical Record website here ( http://www.minrec.org/labels.asp?colid=1528 ). Later in Wulff's life, he took an affinity to cutting cabochons, and this particular stone was in fact cut and polished by Wulff. There is a label from Wulff attached to the back of the stone.