Large Shiva Lingam in agatized jasper - Jasper from Madagascar - Height: 330 mm - Width: 120 mm- 6261 g - (1)

04
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21
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Georgia Foteinou
Expert
Selected by Georgia Foteinou

Holds BSc in geology and post-graduate qualifications in geochemistry.

Estimate  € 850 - € 950
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Description from the seller

Unique Carved and Hand-Polished Sculptural Piece — We present an imposing Shiva Lingam, a sculptural work carved from a single solid block of agatized jasper. This specimen, originating from Madagascar, has been deftly carved and hand-polished to achieve its iconic ovoid form, transforming a fragment of geological history into an object of great visual and artistic impact. Its principal feature lies in the extraordinary color palette and the intricate internal pattern, masterfully revealed by the mirror finish. Direct observation of the piece unveils a world of details. The surface, smooth and polished, reflects light with elegance, enhancing the depth of the colors. The form is harmonious and balanced, with an elongated silhouette that evokes a sense of calm and stability. The color palette is a triumph of warm, earthy tones: intense oranges merge with ochre yellows, ferruginous reds, and deep browns, creating abstract landscapes on the stone’s surface. These colors are interrupted by darker areas, almost black, and by veining and inclusions of white-gray agatized quartz, which draw a dense network of natural lines and sealed fractures. This specimen is a magnificent example of brecciated and agatized jasper. Jasper is an opaque variety of microcrystalline quartz, whose color derives from impurities, primarily iron oxides and hydroxides. The geological process that gave rise to this piece is fascinating: long ago, a preexisting body of jasper was fractured by intense tectonic events. Subsequently, silica-rich hydrothermal fluids percolated through the fractures, cementing the fragments (clasts) together. This silica matrix crystallized as chalcedony or agate, “healing” the rock and creating the characteristic brecciated texture we admire today, a natural mosaic of extraordinary complexity. The Lingam’s form has deep roots in Hindu symbolism, representing creative energy. In this context, the object transcends its spiritual valence to become a pure expression of “naturalia,” a masterpiece of geological art shaped by human hands. A piece of this size and quality is a highly valuable addition to any mineral collection, but also an exceptionally striking decorative element. Its sculptural nature makes it perfect for enriching a design interior, a professional study, or a gallery, becoming a focal point that invites contemplation and dialogue between the primal force of nature and the elegance of form. The unique combination of color, pattern, and size makes this Shiva Lingam an unreproducible piece. Each line, each color spot, each cemented clast tells a geological story spanning millions of years. Human intervention, through carving and polishing, only enhances this story, offering a window into an inner world otherwise hidden. It is an object that embodies a perfect balance between the randomness of natural processes and the intentionality of artistic gesture, destined for a collector or aesthete who can appreciate its deep and silent beauty.

Seller's Story

The Mineral Art Gallery offers minerals, fossils, shells and natural elements. Born in Italy in 2017, today she collaborates with international galleries and collectors, she is a direct importer of large minerals and naturalistic collectible elements; deals with the processing to insert them inside the living space. A section of the gallery was dedicated to the Wunderkammer, "chamber of wonders or cabinet of curiosities" in which Mirabilia elements are presented: naturalia and italiania, a union between "the present is the past". All lots are shipped via DHL Express and Fercam couriers, with insured parcel and tracking.
Translated by Google Translate

Unique Carved and Hand-Polished Sculptural Piece — We present an imposing Shiva Lingam, a sculptural work carved from a single solid block of agatized jasper. This specimen, originating from Madagascar, has been deftly carved and hand-polished to achieve its iconic ovoid form, transforming a fragment of geological history into an object of great visual and artistic impact. Its principal feature lies in the extraordinary color palette and the intricate internal pattern, masterfully revealed by the mirror finish. Direct observation of the piece unveils a world of details. The surface, smooth and polished, reflects light with elegance, enhancing the depth of the colors. The form is harmonious and balanced, with an elongated silhouette that evokes a sense of calm and stability. The color palette is a triumph of warm, earthy tones: intense oranges merge with ochre yellows, ferruginous reds, and deep browns, creating abstract landscapes on the stone’s surface. These colors are interrupted by darker areas, almost black, and by veining and inclusions of white-gray agatized quartz, which draw a dense network of natural lines and sealed fractures. This specimen is a magnificent example of brecciated and agatized jasper. Jasper is an opaque variety of microcrystalline quartz, whose color derives from impurities, primarily iron oxides and hydroxides. The geological process that gave rise to this piece is fascinating: long ago, a preexisting body of jasper was fractured by intense tectonic events. Subsequently, silica-rich hydrothermal fluids percolated through the fractures, cementing the fragments (clasts) together. This silica matrix crystallized as chalcedony or agate, “healing” the rock and creating the characteristic brecciated texture we admire today, a natural mosaic of extraordinary complexity. The Lingam’s form has deep roots in Hindu symbolism, representing creative energy. In this context, the object transcends its spiritual valence to become a pure expression of “naturalia,” a masterpiece of geological art shaped by human hands. A piece of this size and quality is a highly valuable addition to any mineral collection, but also an exceptionally striking decorative element. Its sculptural nature makes it perfect for enriching a design interior, a professional study, or a gallery, becoming a focal point that invites contemplation and dialogue between the primal force of nature and the elegance of form. The unique combination of color, pattern, and size makes this Shiva Lingam an unreproducible piece. Each line, each color spot, each cemented clast tells a geological story spanning millions of years. Human intervention, through carving and polishing, only enhances this story, offering a window into an inner world otherwise hidden. It is an object that embodies a perfect balance between the randomness of natural processes and the intentionality of artistic gesture, destined for a collector or aesthete who can appreciate its deep and silent beauty.

Seller's Story

The Mineral Art Gallery offers minerals, fossils, shells and natural elements. Born in Italy in 2017, today she collaborates with international galleries and collectors, she is a direct importer of large minerals and naturalistic collectible elements; deals with the processing to insert them inside the living space. A section of the gallery was dedicated to the Wunderkammer, "chamber of wonders or cabinet of curiosities" in which Mirabilia elements are presented: naturalia and italiania, a union between "the present is the past". All lots are shipped via DHL Express and Fercam couriers, with insured parcel and tracking.
Translated by Google Translate

Details

Number of objects
1
Main mineral
Large Shiva Lingam in agatized jasper -
Mineral form
Jasper from Madagascar
Supplement
Hand-carved monumental sculpture in jasper
Weight
6261 g
Country of origin
Madagascar
Height
330 mm
Width
120 mm
Depth
120 mm
ItalyVerified
14214
Objects sold
98.42%
protop

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