Intense Royal Blue Lapis Lazuli Freeform - Height: 136 mm - Width: 115 mm- 1263 g - (1)

AAA quality - rare collector's specimen — This lot presents a magnificent free-form Lapis Lazuli from the historic Afghan deposits, a specimen of notable size and superior color quality. The rock has been skillfully worked and polished into a sculptural and organic form, conceived to maximize its intrinsic beauty. The surface, smooth and reflective, captures the light, revealing a microcosm of colors and textures that tell a geologic millennial story. Direct observation of the sample reveals a palette dominated by a deep and saturated ultramarine blue, the most sought-after hue for Lapis Lazuli, evoking pigments used by Renaissance masters. This intense base color is interrupted by a dense and irregular distribution of Pyrite. The metallic inclusions, in a brilliant gold color, appear as specks, veins, or sparkling clusters, creating an effect reminiscent of a starry night sky. To this vibrant contrast are added traces and areas of white and grayish Calcite, which draw on the surface clouds and sinuous tracings, adding visual depth and testifying to the rock's complex composition. The freeform shape, lacking sharp edges, follows soft, undulating lines inviting tactile exploration. Mineralogically, the Lapis Lazuli is not a single mineral, but a metamorphic rock. Its formation occurs after a complex process of contact metamorphism within crystalline limestones. The blue color is due mainly to the presence of the mineral Lazurite, while the golden inclusions are Pyrite crystals and the white veins are Calcite. Afghan provenance, specifically from Badakhshan province, is in itself a mark of excellence. The Sar-e-Sang deposits have been active for over 6,000 years and have supplied the most prized Lapis Lazuli in history. This specimen represents a perfect union between natural history and contemporary design. With its considerable weight of over 1.2 kg, it stands as a display piece of great visual impact, ideal to enrich a high-level mineral collection, a professional studio, or an interior design setting. Its nature as a "geological sculpture" makes it a perfect element for a Wunderkammer, a conversation-stimulating object and a tangible fragment of the deep geologic time of our planet. Technical details Name: Lapis Lazuli Classification: Metamorphic rock Provenance: Afghanistan Dimensions: 136 x 115 x 70 mm Weight: 1263 g Conditions: Natural specimen, free-form worked and polished. No known damage or restoration.