Lot 659
Kongsberg Native Silver Wire With Calcite. Kongsberg Silver Mines, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway.
Kongsberg is the "Holy Grail" of Silver localities. A Kongsberg on matrix with a Calcite rhomb is even more out of the ordinary. The Silver wires and Calcite actually sit atop a matrix of host rock, which is only visible on the backside. Jutting out to the left is a thick (around 1 cm) wire that ends with a curl and balancing it on the right is a 2.7 cm Calcite. There are the typical cleavages on some faces but this does not distract from the aesthetics. The main wire starts from an area between the two branches and rises about 10 cm through a series of twists and bends. Visually, the specimen is extremely pleasing and attractive and almost takes on the appearance of a "Silver flame." The vertical wire begins at 1 cm in thickness and gradually narrows as it pushes upwards towards the final termination. The surfaces are lustrous and original.
Measures 11.5 by 5 cm.
Estimated Value $55,000 - 65,000.
Ex. Hans Erickson, Bergmann Mineral Collections.
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