Wire Silver (classic locale)

Porco Mine, Quijarro Province, Potosi Dept., Bolivia
Miniature, 5.2 x 1.0 x 0.9 cm
Start Time: 05/13/2009 5:00:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 05/21/2009 5:38:42 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

This silver wire really catches one''s attention. It looks like an old, lightning-struck, dead tree or "snag". Typically the Silver specimens from Bolivia are somewhat "flat" and boring, but this piece is amazingly aesthetic for a Bolivian Silver. It is a fine, good-sized (for this mine) group of curved, curled and twisted sIlver "wires" forming a very attractive specimen. This is a great large miniature specimen from a classic Bolivian locality. The mine at Porco is THE oldest and most significant Silver mine in Bolivia, and obtaining specimens is next to impossible because miners rarely bring out anything for sale, as the mine is a large commercial production, and virtually everything goes into the crusher. Most everything that evades the crusher is usually taken out of Bolivia by a geologist who has an "in" at the mine, or sometimes some brave miners risk losing their jobs by sneaking out a handful of specimens to raise a little extra money to feed their families. I obtained this piece directly from the miners at Porco a few months ago, and it is one of the best Bolivian Silvers that I have handled in recent months. It is very difficult to obtain any good silvers from Porco, so don''t miss out. Valued at $600-800 Retail.

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