CSG-03
Smithsonite
Sounion mines, Lavrion, Lavreotiki, Attica, Greece
Small Cabinet, 9.3 x 6.8 x 5.1 cm
Ex. Christos Spiromitros
$2,400.00 Payment Plan Available
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A frequent goal of many collections, both new and old, has always been to acquire a Laurium Smithsonite of the classic blue color found in the late 1800s and very early 1900s, now seen only in museums and the oldest collections. In particular, the rare blue color so similar to mid-1900s material from America was always a desired target. Composed of a thick layer of pure Smithsonite on a bit of matrix, this large and substantial small-cabinet sized specimen grades from a subtly-banded layer of white and blue tones, peaked by nicely developed botryoids (ball shaped aggregates) up to 2.3 cm across. The luster is very good, as is the translucence, and the attractive blue color nearly gives the famous blues from Kelly (New Mexico) or Choix (in Mexico) a run for their money and would really surprise many people who do not expect modern Greek material to compete. Partially coating the Smithsonite is a thin layer of Calcite that fluoresces orange-red and, in places, forms white bands. This is from a single major pocket collected in 2019 from the old-time and fabled Lavrion District, and was since in the personal collection of the dealer handling much of that material. It is remarkable for the blue tones, not often seen since the early 1900s, compared to other colors.