Name: Schorl with Quartz
Brand: Crystal Classics
Price: 1500 USD
Availability: InStock

Updated 3d ago

Schorl with Quartz

A west country classic dating back to the first half of the 19th century. Fine, equant, blocky, glossy black tourmaline crystals of the individual species Schorl were discovered in Devon around the year 1817. They were, at that time world-class tourmaline crystals and drew considerable attention. Many were labelled as from Chudleigh, or Bovey Tracey, but the exact locality was near Woolley Farm. This vague provenancing can be seen on the old Italian label accompanying this specimen - recording it as from "Exeter - Devonshire". Reprovenancing of specimens should be undertaken with the utmost of care, but in this instance there can be no mistaking that it is from this famous occurrence. To the specimen itself: well, I should really let it do the talking as it is one of finest I have seen for sometime. There is notable damage to the surface of the crystal, but it is rare that you see a complete, all-round crystal like this of such lovely shape. This main crystal is an impressive 4.3 cm across at its widest point and sits nicely for display nestled within a bed of slightly smoky needle Quartz crystals. It is a short prism with nicely developed striated prism faces, a naturally etched 'feathery' lower termination and a superb three-sided sloping pyramidal termination at the top, with minor abrasion. A smaller Schorl crystal is attached to one side of the base of this main crystal. The matrix contains pinkish Feldspar, something very typical of this occurrence. Overall, it is a fine display specimen of one of the all-time British classics. Ex Malcolm Southwood collection, no. MS 2013.126.

$1,500.00