Pyromorphite with painting (Bob Byers Coll.)

Item Description

Mineral specimens from this old, extinct Welsh lead mine are RARE and are seldom on the market. Sprays of tiny hexagonal and acicular green pyromorphite prisms to 3 mm are very richly and attractively festooned on both the front and back of sculptural, sparkly quartz crystal miniature matrix. Mining started in about 1852 and continued intermittently until at least 1908 (MINDAT). From the private collection of internationally known wildlife artist Gamini Ratnavira (http://www.gaminiratnavira.com), who started collecting small mineral specimens many years ago after exposure to the mineral community in his residence of Fallbrook, California. For a number of years, Gamini made mineral watercolors for private collectors on commission for $500 each. For his own enjoyment, he also made watercolor paintings of all of his pieces, and the painting is included here with the specimen (7 x 7 x cm paintings set in custom 14.5 x 14.5 cm frames). This is a very fine rare old pyromorphite example of this painting skill. Ex Dr. Bob Byers Collection.