Dioptase on Quartz

Unknown Owner

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A ONE INCH dioptase crystal, fat and dramatic, crowns this specimen! The crystal is huge for the species, stands straight up and is pristine and freestanding, and is complete all around! The crystal has deep color, and is translucent around the edges when backlit. It surely must rank as one of the better examples coming from several new mines in the northern Kaokoveld region in the last 5 years. For the size, it seems hard to beat the aesthetics. The crystal is emplaced on a nice, contrasting quartz matrix. Formerly in the Charlie Key collection, this then went to the Marshall Sussman collection in a deal they did, and was kept for the last 4 years or so in his general Namibian suite. The dramatic nature of the piece, and the significant, pristine crystal, puts this into a high level. A similarly aesthetic and large crystal from the older mine in Tsumeb would cost another "zero" in the price, making this a relative bargain from a contemporary locale. And, out of literally thousands of dioptase specimens to come out in the last 5 years or so as this region is developed, I regard this as one of the best and most impactful for my own tastes (as did the two previous owners, both known as African experts and specialists). Joe Budd Photos