Vanadinite

Item Description

A THREE INCH VANADINITE CRYSTAL! This piece is from a rare old style and pocket and emphasizes an incredibly artistic, mostly two-dimensional, flattened crystal aggregate that is subtly curved giving it a sublime three-dimensional aspect that displays well in a variety of orientations, and the front is as intriguing as the back! This two-sided piece consists of flattened, deep red, hexagonal Vanadinite plates averaging 2 cm across that, on one side, consist of a mix of crystals that display a blend of both hoppered and flat surfaces all with a perceptible satin to glassy sheen and in places toward the interior, it almost looks like the crystals melt together. The other side of the piece has a noticeably curved surface composed of flattened aggregates of platy Vanadinite crystals that have distinct crystal boundaries everywhere. The hoppering is not what we would typically expect as a series of fine striations radiate outward from one end and fan out across the piece internally, creating a shimmering play of light on the interior of the Vanadinite crystal plates leaving the rims untouched for an incredible curving, sculptural effect. This is quite a dramatic small cabinet Vanadinite specimen. It is a two-sided floater with no contacts or damage. This is from a special pocket mined in September of 2001 and shown at the Denver show (where several of us crowded around the single source dealer room in the old Holiday Inn hotel and scarfed them up as they were being set out - he was sold out within a day). At the time, such crystals were expensive already, 20 years ago, and they sell for far more today. This is one of the larger, finer crystals that we have seen circle back to market. Valued $7500-plus.