BRAHIN — A MASSIVE BLOCK OF SPACE GEMS - photo 1

BRAHIN — A MASSIVE BLOCK OF SPACE GEMS

Lot 58
23.02.2021 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 87 500
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 491268
Lot 58 | BRAHIN — A MASSIVE BLOCK OF SPACE GEMS
Estimate value
$ 6 000 – 8 500
Brahin is a pallasite, a stony-iron meteorite — the most uncommon class of meteorites (representing 0.2% of all meteorites) which are arguably the most beautiful extraterrestrial substance known. Now offered is a section cut from such a meteorite. A mesmerizing mosaic of sparkling olivine and peridot crystals are showcased. First found in White Russia in 1810, the designation, pallasite, is in honor of the German scientist, Peter Pallas, who discovered the first pallasitic mass in 1749 in Siberia. This is an honor Pallas is most fortunate to have received, for he fervently believed until his dying days that the unusual specimen he found could not possibly be from outer space. Of course, it was.

This offering displays five cut and polished surfaces topped with the meteorite’s gleaming exterior. Originating from the mantle/core boundary of a shattered asteroid, the crystals, including facet-grade olivine or peridot (birthstone of August) simply dazzle whilst suspended in the polished iron matrix of what was the asteroid’s core.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.


72 x 61 x 48mm (2.75 x 2.5 x 1.75 in.) and 985.7g (2 lbs)
Category:Meteorite
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
09.02.2021 – 23.02.2021
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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