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 piece of Lapis Lazuli from the historic Afghanistan deposits, a specimen of remarkable size and superior color quality. The rock has been expertly worked and polished into a sculptural and organic form, conceived to maximize its intrinsic beauty. The surface, smooth and reflective, captures light, revealing a microcosm of colors and textures that tell a geologic story of millennia. Direct observation of the sample reveals a palette dominated by a deep, saturated ultramarine blue, the most sought-after shade for Lapis Lazuli, evoking the pigments used by Renaissance masters. This intense base color is interspersed with a dense and irregular distribution of Pyrite. The metallic inclusions, a bright gold color, appear as specks, veins, or glittering 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 pathways, adding visual depth and bearing testimony to the complex composition of the rock. The free form, lacking sharp edges, follows soft, undulating lines that invite tactile exploration. From a mineralogical standpoint, Lapis Lazuli is not a single mineral, but a metamorphic rock. Its formation occurs through a complex process of contact metamorphism within crystalline limestones. The blue color is mainly due to the presence of the mineral Lazurite, while the golden inclusions are Pyrite crystals and the white veins are composed of Calcite. The Afghan provenance, specifically from Badakhshan province, is in itself a hallmark of excellence. The Sar-e-Sang deposits have been active for over 6,000 years and have supplied the finest Lapis Lazuli in history. This specimen represents a perfect fusion of natural history and contemporary design. With its substantial weight of over 1.2 kg, it stands out as a display piece with great visual impact, ideal for enriching a high-level mineral collection, a professional study, or an interior design environment. Its nature as a "geological sculpture" makes it a perfect element for a Wunderkammer, a piece that stimulates conversation and a tangible fragment of the deep geological 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 shaped and polished. No known damage or restoration.