SOLD
TCM11
Inesite
Daye Mine, Hubei Province, China
Miniature, 5.5 x 4.0 x 3.1 cm
Ex. Francis and Patricia Benjamin; Dr. Stephen Smale
SOLD

This is an expensive piece, to be sure, but it is of the finest quality. This piece has an unusually 3-dimensional spray and the best hands-down color I have seen only in the very TOP Chinese inesites. These specimens came out a few years ago at their best, and most seem to have gone in a lot deal to Steve Smale. From him, this fine miniature went to Francis Benjamin in exchanges, and now to me. It has never been shown before its pubilcation recently and I know both previous owners consider it the finest miniature from the find that they are aware of (i agree). It is illustrated and is important because it has DISTINCT ISOLATED CRYSTALS that fan out nicely from the core of this 3-dimensional spray. Most of these specimens are more "jumbled" or in wheat-sheave-like bundles. These are already the best inesites since a small pocket in the early 1980s in South Africa, but this one piece really stands out in its exceptional crystal quality. Others came out later. They are ALMOST as good. This first round was, from what I have seen, still the best.