D06-145
Tourmaline, Smoky Quartz, Lepidolite, Albite
Paprok,Kunar Province, Afghanistan
Large Cabinet, 17.6 x 10.8 x 8.1 cm
SOLD
Bubblegum-pinks are rare, for whatever reason, despite the produndity of other colors coming out of Afghanistan. A good bubblegum-pink tourmaline is just hard to get ahold of...and o matrix, almost impossible! This attractive combination piece features a 9 x 3.75 x 3 cm crystal perched dramatically next to a slightly smoky quartz, with both showing freestanding terminations unencumbered of the other. The smoky has a slight chip out of the back (not visible or detracting at all from the front), but is otherwise complete all around 360 degrees! The tourmaline is pristine, has no damage at all, and is ALSO complete 360 degrees except at its junction to the quartz in the lower half on onee side. The termination is perfect. There is one very clean repair only, on the whole specimen, to the tourmaline about 1.3 up from its bottom. You have to really look for it, to find it, the job is done so well. What really makes the piece, though, is the accenting white albite and purple lepidolite at the base of the smoky and tourmaline, nestling the two crystals and providing a contrasting base for them to jump out from. It is an exceptional combination piece that I first sold in the late 1990s and have been trying to trade back ever since to do more work on it (which was done, to trim it to this level). I have not see the like since, in this price range.