 |
|
The
largest and most celebrated collection of aesthetic iron meteorites in
the world
|
|
Auction Catalog |
| <<< PREV | NEXT >>> |
| LOT 39 |
 |
| Sikhote-Alin — The Epitome of an Iron Meteorite From the Largest Meteorite Shower in Human History and a Cataclysmic Event Frozen in Time Iron, coarse octahedrite Maritime Territory, Siberia, Russia Worthy of any museum collection, this sexy meteorite exemplifies the finest attributes not only of Sikhote-Alin meteorites, but of any iron meteorite. Sikhote-Alins this large with this much character are exceedingly rare. Perhaps the largest example outside of Russia, no major natural history museum has a Sikhote-Alin as large as the example offered here, including The Smithsonian, the American Museum of Natural History and The Natural History Museum (London). The monumental force exerted on this meteorite as it rocketed through Earth’s atmosphere is evident. Blanketed with fusion crust and regmaglypts (thumbprints) and rippling with tell-tale flow lines, this meteorite was in the process of splitting apart before impacting Earth. This is the only Sikhote-Alin of this size to possess a fissure running the length of the specimen. Crashing into our atmosphere at a cosmic velocity of 10-25 miles per second most likely initiated the process. Atmospheric frictional heating then acted as the hottest of torches blasting into the groove leaving the smooth, undulating fluting now seen. Evidencing every ideal of splendor and wonder in an iron meteorite, this is also a sublime example Georgia O’Keefe would have loved. A spectacular example from the most terrifying meteorite shower of modern times. Provenance: Macovich Collection 394 x 355 x 241mm (15.5 x 14 x 9.5in) and 99.5 kilos (219 pounds) Estimate: $55,000 - 70,000 |
 |
| For
more information please contact: Darryl Pitt, Curator of the Macovich Collection Tel: (212) 302-9200 • Fax: (212) 382-1639 |