HISTORIC NATIVE COPPER : CARNEGIE COLLECTION . ...

Description

HISTORIC NATIVE COPPER : CARNEGIE COLLECTION
Lake Superior District, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, USA
Like the opening salvo from a volcanic eruption, the branching forms of this historic Native Copper specimen grow broader as it rises into the sky. One can almost visualize lightning bolts flashing within the dark interior. It is not too difficult to understand what it was about this piece that caught, and held, the eye of steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, so many years ago. Thousands of sharply limned crystals the color of old saddle leather with verde-gris accents are literally everywhere on this massive (10 ¼ pounds) metallic plume. There is a small amount of the host matrix on the lower back near the accession number ("161"), but otherwise this is a virtually pure mass of Native Copper. This museum size bit of history comes with a custom acrylic base identifying it as from the Carnegie Collection. There is a photograph of it on his display shelf, as well as a notation in his collection notebook. In excellent condition, it measures 15 ½ inches tall by 6 ½ inches wide by 1 ¼ inches thick. This historic specimen resided in the Carnegie family home, long after his death, until it was sold by Carnegie's granddaughter in 1984. It has resided in a private collection until now.
Provenance: Andrew Carnegie Collection

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