This specimen has what I most love about old pieces - a convergence of beauty and aesthetics with importance, history, and locality value. The 6.5-cm spray of azurite crystals in the middle is dramatic and has intense azure color. It is perched on contrasting matrix, and protected by the vug it formed in. From an old collection being dispersed in France, I picked this up as a larger specimen and trimmed it to accentuate the crystals more dramatically. I knew it was important, but I am now told that for size and impact, it is quite simply the finest surviving azurite from this old Italian locale, according to Dr Federico Pezzotta of the Museum of Milan. When old specimens can still be important after 100 years, you know there is value in ownership. But its nice to have display quality beauty, too. Joe Budd photos