Rhodonite (old classic with 100-year old label) ex. Saxlehner Coll.

Item Description

Fowlerite is the zincoan and calcoan variety of rhodonite, named after Dr. Samuel Fowler. He had a strong interest in science and business and purchased both the Franklin orebody and the Sterling Mine in the early 1800s (MINDAT). This very fine combination old-timer is from the Art Soregaroli Collection. Two, sharp, translucent, rose-red, rhodonite crystals are aesthetically set in massive, glassy calcite matrix with franklinite and a host of smaller rhodonites. The impressive, pristine, terminated crystal is 3.5 cm long. Previous owners included K. Saxlehner of Budapest (the George English label attached to the Saxlehner label dates to 1903-05)! and Mine Director Tausch. The large crystals are very fine for the locale. NEON orange calcite fluorescence. Valued at $2000 for crystal size, quality, age and provenance. Kalman Saxlehner (1868-ca.1938) built a considerable collection of minerals, and no doubt became familiar with the New York mineral dealers Lazard Cahn, Albert Petereit and others. His collection was ultimately dispersed by the Austrian dealer Anton Berger in the 1930s.