Large Polished Quartz Breccia Obelisk A Sculpture Carved from a Natural Silicified Breccia Quartz - Height: 290 mm - Width: 110 mm- 3183 g - (1)

05
days
18
hours
05
minutes
15
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Georgia Foteinou
Expert
Selected by Georgia Foteinou

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

Estimate  € 750 - € 850
No bids placed

Catawiki Buyer Protection

Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details

Trustpilot 4.4 | 143966 reviews

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.

Grande obelisk in polished quartz breccia, a sculpted obelisk from Brazil, measuring 290 × 110 × 70 mm and weighing 3183 g.

AI-assisted summary

Description from the seller

A magnificent monolith with ochre colors and geodes of crystal — An imposing obelisk carved from a single, massive block of silicified quartz breccia sourced from Brazil. This specimen stands out for its remarkable size and its incredible visual impact, making it a true natural sculpture. Its slender, soaring shape and the mirror-polished surface highlight its complex geological structure, transforming it into a highly prized decorative and collectible piece. Close observation of the surface reveals the material's breccia nature: a fascinating mosaic of angular rock fragments (clasts) captured and cemented by a silica matrix. Clasts in warm ochre tones, mustard yellow, and Rust brown seem to float in a dark gray to almost black binder, creating a powerful and dynamic color contrast. Delicate veins of white milky quartz traverse the composition, adding further levels of detail and testifying to the complex fracturing and re-cementation processes. The workmanship has skillfully preserved some small natural cavities, or vugs, that open on the glossy surface like secret windows. Inside these pockets, one can admire the sparkling growth of druzy quartz microcrystals, whose raw brilliance creates a suggestive material dialogue with the smooth, polished faces of the obelisk. These details are not imperfections, but precious testaments to the mineral's formation process, deliberately left visible to enrich the specimen. This breccia tells a geological story spanning millions of years. It formed as a result of a tectonic or hydrothermal event that shattered the preexisting rock. Subsequently, silica-rich fluids (SiO₂) percolated through these fractures, filling the voids and acting as a powerful natural cement that welded the fragments together. The different colorations are due to the presence of various iron oxides and hydroxides (such as goethite or hematite for the warm tones) and other mineral inclusions in the siliceous matrix. For its iconic shape, substantial dimensions, and extraordinary geological aesthetics, this obelisk qualifies as a high-value decorative and intellectual object. It is an ideal piece to enrich a library, a professional study, or a contemporary design interior, where it can serve as a focal point for conversation. At the same time, it represents a magnificent specimen for a modern Wunderkammer or for a natural history collection, embodying the power and creativity of Earth’s processes in an elegant, sculptural form. Technical details Mineral: Silicified Quartz Breccia Type: Carved Obelisk Provenance: Brazil Dimensions: 290 x 110 x 70 mm Weight: 3183 g Condition: Natural, worked and polished. Presence of geodes and natural cavities.

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

A magnificent monolith with ochre colors and geodes of crystal — An imposing obelisk carved from a single, massive block of silicified quartz breccia sourced from Brazil. This specimen stands out for its remarkable size and its incredible visual impact, making it a true natural sculpture. Its slender, soaring shape and the mirror-polished surface highlight its complex geological structure, transforming it into a highly prized decorative and collectible piece. Close observation of the surface reveals the material's breccia nature: a fascinating mosaic of angular rock fragments (clasts) captured and cemented by a silica matrix. Clasts in warm ochre tones, mustard yellow, and Rust brown seem to float in a dark gray to almost black binder, creating a powerful and dynamic color contrast. Delicate veins of white milky quartz traverse the composition, adding further levels of detail and testifying to the complex fracturing and re-cementation processes. The workmanship has skillfully preserved some small natural cavities, or vugs, that open on the glossy surface like secret windows. Inside these pockets, one can admire the sparkling growth of druzy quartz microcrystals, whose raw brilliance creates a suggestive material dialogue with the smooth, polished faces of the obelisk. These details are not imperfections, but precious testaments to the mineral's formation process, deliberately left visible to enrich the specimen. This breccia tells a geological story spanning millions of years. It formed as a result of a tectonic or hydrothermal event that shattered the preexisting rock. Subsequently, silica-rich fluids (SiO₂) percolated through these fractures, filling the voids and acting as a powerful natural cement that welded the fragments together. The different colorations are due to the presence of various iron oxides and hydroxides (such as goethite or hematite for the warm tones) and other mineral inclusions in the siliceous matrix. For its iconic shape, substantial dimensions, and extraordinary geological aesthetics, this obelisk qualifies as a high-value decorative and intellectual object. It is an ideal piece to enrich a library, a professional study, or a contemporary design interior, where it can serve as a focal point for conversation. At the same time, it represents a magnificent specimen for a modern Wunderkammer or for a natural history collection, embodying the power and creativity of Earth’s processes in an elegant, sculptural form. Technical details Mineral: Silicified Quartz Breccia Type: Carved Obelisk Provenance: Brazil Dimensions: 290 x 110 x 70 mm Weight: 3183 g Condition: Natural, worked and polished. Presence of geodes and natural cavities.

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 Polished Quartz Breccia Obelisk
Mineral form
A Sculpture Carved from a Natural Silicified Breccia Quartz
Supplement
Rare Quartz Formation
Weight
3183 g
Country of origin
Brazil
Height
290 mm
Width
110 mm
Depth
70 mm
ItalyVerified
14269
Objects sold
98.36%
protop

Similar objects

  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​

For you in

Minerals & Meteorites

  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​