SM23-23
Calcite (Twinned)
Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA
Cabinet, 10.9 x 7.8 x 4.8 cm
Ex. Dr. Robert Lavinsky
$25,000.00 Payment Plan Available
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This is a true "Elmwood Jewel" from the old days, the 1980s finds here of some of the best gem calcites in the world. This gorgeous twin has symmetrical perfection, color, and a robust fat shape to it that gives huge visual impact. I bought this from the great dealer and mentor, Joe Kielbaso, circa 1990, for my own personal calcite collection. While many calcites have come out since, I still treasure most the style of a doubly terminated crystal perched on matrix, from the old days. This crystal is a twin, with a sharp and balanced twin plane right in the middle. These crystals tend to have deeper color than modern material from the 2000s finds, and also have a bit of a more complex, modified, termination. This crystal is pristine, with both terminations complex and intact - very rare on specimens of this size. There is, remarkably, no restoration - it is just perfect. The crystal atop is over 10 cm across and 5 cm tall, has rich color, and is complete on the back as well. Interestingly, it has a small sliver of ingrown dolomite matrix, a sparkly contrast, on the left flank of the twinned crystal. In the back, in what is sort of a natural pedestal of lesser calcite crystals, is a small cluster of ingrown sphalerite as a bonus. Obviously, there are a lot of Elmwood calcites on the market. Not like this. I was there, I saw thousands come out over my time in this business from Joe and others, and things like this are simply a level we seldom see. Better in person.