Copper from the Urals is rare on the market in good quality, and this comes from one of the classic old mining regions, worked as far back as the 1700s. This copper is MUCH SHARPER and more intricate in person than it appears. It is complete all around, and is very 3-DIMENSIONAL, much more so than photos easily convey. It is composed of an intergrown nest of elongated crystals, around a central matrix core. The piece was formerly in the collection of Carl August Bloede (1773-1820), German chemist; and then in a major American museum collection until recently.