Silver (cubic crystals)

Item Description

Silver crystals from the ancient mines at Kongsberg, even after hundreds of years, still set the standard for sharp crystals of silver, particularly for the rare cubic habit of this native metal. Michigan produced a few, but generally not as sharp. Silver in cube habits is seen so rarely, perhaps 1 in 10000 specimens, and crystal silver in general is rare enough when you think about how few good sources we have. This specimen is an extremely elegant cluster, featuring sharp cubes held aloft on stalks. This is an elegant and exceptional 2.5 x 2.4 x 1.2 cm group of silver, complete all around, including one silver cube at the top left side of the “u” shaped specimen. It could not be displayed more dominantly if you carved it. This was one of only 35 displayed specimens that won the 2010 Paul Desautel Trophy for Best Mineral Case in Competition at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show - crushing competition that included far more valuable and larger specimens in all size ranges, as Desautels at the level of Tucson exhibition is simply about quality first, and size matters not (in the immortal words of Yoda, who could have been the thumbnail Jedi collector!). Alex's 2010 case handily beat competition, and this required each and every piece to score highly. This came from Cal Graeber in 1993, presumably from an old collection. Scovil photo. Valued $2000-plus.