Fluorite & Quartz (old classic) Univ. of Rochester & Bartels Coll.

County Durham, England
Cabinet, 10.5 x 8.0 x 6.3 cm
Start Time: 11/08/2018 6:30:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 11/15/2018 6:34:17 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

Item Description

A sculptural OLD-TIME combination specimen from County Durham with a fine and unusual provenance. The striking, two-sided, mounded bulbous specimen hosts a myriad of glassy, lustrous, transparent to translucent golden-yellow fluorite cubes, to 1.2 cm, that are encased in sparkly drusy quartz. Patches of dark gray galena are a nice contrast and typical accessory. Bright blue-purple fluorescence. The front is pristine and the periphery wear on the back side is certainly acceptable in the context of this old-timer. Formerly in the Sprague and the University of Rochester Collections. The numbers match. A little known fact is that by 1879 the third largest US museum was at the University of Rochester, after Harvard and the Smithsonian! Ex Robert Lambert and Ted Bartels Collections. Possibly from the West Pasture Mine, which produced yellow fluorite and has an obscure history. The piece displays very well without aid. Rare, perhaps unique old Durham fluorite and quartz.

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