Calcite (classic material)

Item Description

English Calcites are some of the most classic examples of the species in existence. You'll find them mentioned in all of the old mineralogy books, and their excellent form and overall quality allowed for them to be features on lithographs dating back centuries. This piece is a classic example only listed as coming from Egremont with no specific mine. The piece is filled with sharp, attractive, compressed rhombic crystals that are notably "curved" measuring up to 2.5 cm on edge, sitting on matrix. The crystals are most white in color, but they have a bit of a contrasting grey hue along the edges (perhaps a preferential coating of some kind of iron oxide), to create a lovely two-tone effect. The piece is largely undamaged, though not 100% pristine, as there is a bit of peripheral roughness. Overall is a very showy and eye-catching example of these wonderful old Calcites from Northern England. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#4 E), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the coming months and years through our various platforms.