Quartz var. Amethyst

Oranje River, Namibia
Ex. Charlie Key
Cabinet, 11.5 x 11.4 x 7.3 cm
Start Time: 01/30/2025 7:00:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 02/08/2025 6:45:00 pm (CST)
Auction Closed
Winning Bid: $470

Item Description

From a noted quartz collection put together by the legendary Africa-specialized dealer Charlie Key, this is an INTENSE amethyst specimen with sharp crystals on a quartz matrix. Most amethyst from this locality is pale, frankly ugly. This is shockingly colored like grape juice and was a prize in his display collection of 500-plus specimens from this region, accumulated as he cherry picked lots for decades in the 1990s-2000s. It is most unusual to get anything from here on a real matrix! These lustrous, rather equant, amethyst crystals are to 6.0 cm in length, and complexly intergrown. There is no major damage to the core area, beyond a few trivial dings to secondary crystals. Note: There is some minor edge wear here and there; and peripheral damage around the edges of the specimen, though it is relatively minor in context and an important piece, so all in context for that reason as well. We have chosen not to repair those small dings with epoxy, preferring the natural look. The color is intense enough to be called "Siberian Amethyst", an old gem term; and is really striking and beautiful aside from its significance for the locality - where amethyst of such hue is rare. Charlie Key was one of the most important dealers of the 1900s and he built an impressive and broad collection of Namibian material, and quartz from Africa. We purchased it circa 2012 or so, with Marshall Sussman.

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Bidding History

Bid Amount Bid Time
$470 02/08/2025 6:40:38 pm (CST)
$460 02/08/2025 6:37:50 pm (CST)
$450 * 02/08/2025 6:36:42 pm (CST)
$450 * 02/08/2025 6:36:42 pm (CST)
$440 02/08/2025 6:36:27 pm (CST)
$430 02/08/2025 6:36:27 pm (CST)
$420 02/08/2025 6:34:56 pm (CST)
$410 02/08/2025 6:30:22 pm (CST)
$400 02/08/2025 6:30:15 pm (CST)
$390 02/08/2025 6:30:15 pm (CST)
$380 02/08/2025 6:29:11 pm (CST)
$370 02/08/2025 6:20:59 pm (CST)
$360 02/08/2025 6:20:50 pm (CST)
$353 02/08/2025 6:20:50 pm (CST)
$343 02/05/2025 3:18:23 pm (CST)
$333 02/05/2025 3:18:23 pm (CST)
$330 02/05/2025 3:18:10 pm (CST)
$320 02/05/2025 3:18:10 pm (CST)
$310 02/05/2025 2:59:56 pm (CST)
$300 02/05/2025 2:59:56 pm (CST)
$270 02/05/2025 3:14:16 am (CST)
$260 02/05/2025 3:14:16 am (CST)
$255 02/03/2025 4:40:32 am (CST)
$245 02/03/2025 4:40:20 am (CST)
$240 02/03/2025 4:40:20 am (CST)
$230 02/03/2025 4:40:12 am (CST)
$220 02/03/2025 4:40:12 am (CST)
$210 02/03/2025 4:39:50 am (CST)
$200 02/03/2025 4:39:50 am (CST)
$121 02/02/2025 9:02:32 pm (CST)
$111 02/02/2025 9:02:32 pm (CST)
$109 01/31/2025 10:31:27 pm (CST)
$99 01/31/2025 10:31:27 pm (CST)
$70 01/31/2025 10:38:11 am (CST)
$60 01/31/2025 10:38:11 am (CST)
$50 01/31/2025 10:38:09 am (CST)
$45 01/31/2025 10:38:09 am (CST)
$40 01/31/2025 10:38:07 am (CST)
$35 01/31/2025 10:38:07 am (CST)
$30 01/31/2025 10:38:04 am (CST)
$25 01/31/2025 10:38:04 am (CST)
$20 01/31/2025 10:38:02 am (CST)
$15 01/31/2025 10:38:02 am (CST)
$10 01/31/2025 12:43:12 am (CST)
* Proxy Bid Battle: In the event of two customers inputting matching proxy bids, the leading bid goes to the earliest of the two proxy bids. Tie winners are shown in bold.