Stibnite

Wuning Mine, Qingjiang, Wuning Co., Jiujiang Pref., Jianxi Prov., China

21 x 18.5 x 8 cm (8¼ x 7¼ x 3⅛ inches). 1.262 kg (2.78 lb).

This striking specimen is a superb example of the crystal species stibnite—an antimony-rich sulfide mineral composed primarily of antimony (Sb), one of the native elements on the periodic table. While antimony is widely extracted today for industrial applications—most notably in flame retardants, alloys, and semiconductors—its natural crystallization as stibnite transforms it from functional commodity to sculptural mineral. When conditions are ideal, stibnite grows into lustrous, blade-like crystals with a metallic sheen and architectural geometry, making them appear more like precision-machined metal than the result of slow, geologic time.

This particular piece is emblematic of why stibnite from the Wuning Mine in Jiangxi Province, China, is considered the finest ever found. Several robust, metallic-gray crystals radiate upward in a sharply defined V-formation, their pointed terminations and parallel striations catching light with exceptional brilliance. A single perpendicular crystal intersects the spray, lending the composition a sense of movement, balance, and visual tension. The piece exudes symmetry and control, with well-developed paneled faces that reflect light like polished steel—rendering the specimen at once natural and engineered in appearance.

The stibnite formed in hydrothermal veins during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 130 million years ago, within a host rock that dates back to the Devonian period (roughly 360 to 400 million years ago). These geologic frameworks, formed under intense heat and pressure, provided the precise chemical conditions for the slow crystallization of stibnite in its most elegant form.

This specimen was part of the now-famous 2003 discovery at the Wuning Mine—a pocket that yielded approximately 5,000 pieces, the vast majority being single or damaged crystals. From this total, fewer than 100 examples met the criteria of completeness, dimensionality, and luster that define elite status. This piece belongs to that exclusive group. Acquired in its entirety by Daniel Trinchillo at the time of the discovery and brought to market through his direction, every significant specimen from that find passed through his hands, with this piece standing as one of the finest.

In both its geological significance and sculptural elegance, this stibnite transcends mineral classification. It is a crystallized manifestation of elemental metal—delivered by nature, perfected through time, and preserved as an enduring example of one of Earth’s most iconic metallic species.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/natural-history-2/stibnite