Silver
Unknown Owner
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A superb, dramatic, curvaceous, really massive large thumbnail/small miniature-sized specimen of silver from this famous deposit in China, early 2000s vintage. This has a dimensionality to it that is hard to convey in photos. Most silver thumbnails are of necessity, simply small but representative: thin and squiggly, not robust and solid like this, out of simply seeing what nature gives us. Smaller sizes with such robust crystals just do not seem to form all that often, making this a "small" specimen of a "large" crystal style we do not see very much. The quality and size, thickness and style here, look much like ancient Kongsberg (Norway) wires. In fact, if this turned up on the market without our label someday, I think it WOULD be assumed to be Kongsberg at twice the price. The quality and balance, it is just so rare and unexpected from what we saw from China when these were coming out. Alex notes: Ken Roberts, Roberts Minerals International, Oro Valley, Arizona, February 27, 2015. This would have come from Ken's long-held personal collection from his China travels, and he certainly beat me to a few things on the ground there at the time. When he sold his miniatures, Alex got choice ahead of me as they lived nearby. This is, stood truly vertical, a miniature. We will call it a thumbnail here by bending the rules a bit as it barely fits in a TN box. It really has a special look to it, and is better in person. Laszlo Kupi photo. Recently featured in the book, Refined Elegance (Mineralogical Record, Nov. 2022) on page 122.
Product details
SpeciesSilver
SizeMiniature
Dimensions3.2 x 2.4 x 0.7 cm
Added on11/07/2025
LocalityChina, Shanxi, Hongda Mine
Known provenance
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| 12/2025 | Unknown Owner | $4,500.00 |
| — | The Arkenstone | Not disclosed |
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Mineral guide
Learn about Silver
native silver with wire, leaf, and dendritic forms, bright luster and patina; prized for rare isometric crystals and iconic localities in collections.Regional guide
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