Azurite (Super Miniature!)

This is an exceptional, pristine specimen from a famous 1960s pocket, nicknamed the "Charlie Key pocket" at the time because he brought most of the specimens out to market and selectively distributed them to friends (such as Bill, here). It has a vivid, deep electric blue color, with riveting highlights even in normal lighting; but it is the symmetrical form that is most striking to me. Complete all around, too! This is the single most glassy and bright pocket of large crystals of azurite from Tsumeb, I would say. It is a pocket known by a nickname, out of dozens or more azurite finds over the years. This indicates it is a very special piece, when people attach such a name to a particular style and find...and this style and quality never were recapitulated during the rest of Tsumeb's mining history. Of course, its gone and closed now. Marshall and Charlotte Sussman had one in their first collection and had been on the lookout for such a piece for Karl's collection for some time, when this became available from the Severance Collection - so they got it for Karl. Iit is a smoker of a miniature! Why is he parting with it? Just didn't feel an azurite was a good fit for the collection, at the end of the day. There is NOTHING wrong wiht this fine specimen. And, I think his price is cheap...should be $5-6k.

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Azurite

SizeMiniature

Dimensions4.4 x 2.5 x 2.3 cm

Locality

Namibia, Oshikoto Region, Tsumeb

Added on10/23/2024

Comments

Known provenance

2024/08