Silver wires on spinel-twinned silver (old classic) Durkos & Hauck Coll.

Item Description

An exceptional old-time silver specimen from the famous mines at Batopilas. Striking flattened silver wires project out of the dense nest of herringbone-patterned spinel-twinned silver crystals. They look like cobras. The dramatic large wire is 4.3 cm long. Some of the wires are beautifully burnished, with most of the piece being coated with acanthite. The bit of the vein matrix calcite noted in the center adds pizzazz and contrast. Ex John Durkos Collection to the Robert Hauck Silver Collection. This very aesthetic piece probably dates to the primary mining period at Batopilas, circa 1880s to about 1910. The large wire is very large for the locale. Choice and rare. Valued at $4000.