Large crystallized Silver (Durkos and Robert Hauck Coll.)

Item Description

Silver specimens from this less well-known today, old Cobalt area mine are very rare and are seldom on the market. This is a dramatic and sculptural, biomorphic specimen that looks like a rabbit's head with ears of bright, hackly, moderately iridescent silver crystals partially encased in a quartz vein. It is very aesthetically attached to the mounded, silver ore-basalt CABINET matrix body. Accenting the piece are a few scattered black blebs of native bismuth. This very impressive large silver specimen displays very well, without aid. Ex John Durkos (acquired from the mine manager in 1965) and Robert Hauck Collections. The mine closed in 1971. The Durkos Collection was the largest and most comprehensive private collection of Cobalt silvers put together to my knowledge. Durkos lived in the silver district and made it known he would buy fine specimens for cash, which he did for over 40 years from the 1950s til his death. A major old Canadian piece, here! Valued $1800-2000.