Azurite and Malachite (ex. Herb Obodda)

Item Description

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This old find cabinet specimen of azurite and malachite from Chessy-les-mines, the type locality of Azurite, features a few prominent, nicely formed crystals. Formerly, in honor of the type locality, material from Chessy had been marketed as chessylite for a long time before the name Azurite was even used broadly in mineralogy. Azurite from this locality is some of the best from Europe, and specimens of this quality for sharpness and luster are seldom seen for sale as production ceased in the late 1800s. Most recently from the private collection of Herb Obodda, this specimen label also notes that it dates back to the storied collection of Archduke Stephan von Habsburg-Lothringen (1817-1867) although his old labels do not survive with the specimen (many Archduke labels were actually stolen from the actual museum drawers where they were housed by a certain well-known bad apple of a dealer in Germany decades ago, and given out with non-Archduke specimens in a real travesty of ethics, sadly). In any case, it is best to buy pieces like this from what is in front of you, since we cannot provide an older label as proof of the history, and simply value this as a superb example from a historic locality - still, very good! Valued $1000