Gold on Calcite

Bronzewing Mine, Western Australia
Miniature, 4.5 x 2.4 x 1.6 cm
Start Time: 05/07/2009 8:00:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 05/12/2009 7:38:36 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

From a small find that Rob Sielecki brought to the Denver show some years ago, this is a gorgeous leaf gold on calcite matrix. I cannot honeslty recall seeing such bright leaf gold from Australia, only from Verespatak and from a few small finds in Tuolomne County, California (both historic and rare, as well!). The brightness is AMAZING...it is literally like gold foil, super-reflective. The piece is delicate, but it is not so frail it cannot be displayed or handled by the calcite matrix attached. This is what I call "crystallized leaf gold" because although the shape and thinness at first glance indicate a leafyy gold without form, closer inspection shows flattenned trigons and definite structure to the foil-thick leaf. It has amazing, tinfoil luster and is incredibly beautiful. You get a lot of display impact and gusto for the price with one of these new Aussie golds, in terms of surface area and pizzazz. This is one of the better miniatures I have seen of the find, especially for the price range. Note that to be on the safe side I have stabilized it by sprinkling 2 invisible drops of glue behind the leaf to make sure it stays solidly adhered to the matrix of calcite. Valued $2000-2500

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