"It's a study; a sculpture of a pear blossom rendered in enamelled gold and the centres of each flower have a tiny dew drop which is a diamond - it is supported in a vase made of
rock crystal. It the rarest, most poetic manifestation of Faberge's work that one could ever hope to see."
The display, which runs until July 2, consists of luminous ceramics, intricate carvings shaped from
rock crystals, and artefacts decorated with Kufic calligraphy and embellished with vines and leaves.
The latter stand in vases cut from clear
rock crystal and look unnervingly real.
Rock crystal was thought at the time to be petrified ice, which lent it special significance.
Another interesting composite --diamonds and
rock crystal. Gems & Jewellery, 19(3), 20-21.
"A large
rock crystal or stone statue in the romance sector will 'nail down' a flighty or unstable relationship," Cua added.
A Baldi crystal basin made from a single
rock crystal unearthed from the Amazon rainforests costs Rs 95 lakh.
"e pendant is tiny - the size of a ngernail - and would have held a relic of St George behind a piece of
rock crystal," said Georgina.
Among the 237 objects to go under the hammer, highlights include a life-size portrait of Persian ruler Fath 'Ali Shah, an important Iznik pottery tile depicting the Ka'ba, and an eleventh-century
rock crystal chess piece.
They comprise a freshwater cultured pearl, opal and diamond torsade necklace by Van Cleef and Arpels (PS6000-8000); a mid 20th century
rock crystal Lily of the Valley spray brooch, also by Van Cleef and Arpels (PS4000-6000) and an Italian aquamarine torsade necklace (PS6000-8000).
It is made of
rock crystal set in a mount of silver and red coral.
Crack, the informal name given to the
rock crystal form of the drug, produces vapors that are then smoked.