TODAY! Bonham's Natural History Auction

All I can say is WOW!

Right now there is a room in Los Angeles filled with people bidding on some of Earth's Treasures...ancient creatures caught in time along with works of art formed of natural crystal's from the crust (by talented gem carvers from the US & Idar -Oberstein).

Take a moment to flip through the catalog and envision yourself in room looking at these beautiful items....BTW - they have added about 5 pages of stunning gems and jewelry to the end of this catalog.

As the winning bids come in keep an eye on the pieces you love...some may not sell today...call the auction house for more info.

Lot No: 1240

Multi-color Tourmaline Rough and Cut

Nigeria
A large, cutting-grade rough of slightly tapering form graduating from bottle green at the base to rubellite at the top,weighing approximately 1700 carats; together with an emerald-cut bi-color tourmaline from the same locality, weighing approximately 12.47 carats and measuring 17.0 x 7.0 x 7.0mm. (2)

Estimate: $3,000 - 4,000

For more info, go to: http://www.bonhams.com/usa/auction/18406/

Items include:

Sale 18406 - Natural History
Los Angeles, 12 Dec 2010 at 10:00

Natural History - Pearls

Lots 1000 to 1092 Natural History - Fossils

Lots 1093 to 1122 Natural History - Meteorites

Lots 1123 to 1182 Natural History - Curiosities

Lots 1184 to 1204 Natural History - Amber

Lots 1202 to 1555 Natural History - Jewelry

Lots 1205 to 1228 Natural History - Native Metals

Lots 1229 to 1308 Natural History - Minerals

Lots 1309 to 1344 Natural History - Decor

Lots 1345 to 1369 Natural History - Lapidary Works of Art Lot No: 1121 Fukang Meteorite Rectangular Section Stony-Iron - Pallasite Fukang, Xinjiang Uygar, China Coveted by collectors worldwide, Fukang is famous for its marvelous, especially large olivine crystals. Only a single mass of Fukang was discovered. Meteorites typically explode after entering the Earth's atmosphere, often blasting the original body into tiny pieces. Impact with Earth sometimes vaporizes the main mass of a meteorite completely. Yet, this amazing survivor endured tremendous atmospheric and impact forces to transport its bounty of rare olivine crystals to Earth. Weighing approximately 930.3 grams and measuring 2 ¾ x 2 ¾ x1 ¾ in Estimate: $8,000 - 10,000 Lot No: 1355 Watermelon Tourmaline, Rock Crystal Quartz and Silver-gilt Box By Manfred Wild Idar-Oberstein, Germany Of hexagonal outline, carved from a single huge rough of rock crystal quartz, centering on two huge cross-section slices of rare watermelon tourmaline from Madagascar, set into the rock crystal frame of the lid and base and silver border to lid. With hinged silver-gilt mount. Measures 7 ½ x 6 ½ x 3 ¾ in. Estimate: $2,500 - 3,500 Lot No: 1346 Carved Blue Chalcedony Scent Bottle Designed and Carved by Sherris Cottier Shank Part of the vanguard of American lapidary artists, the exceptional quality of Sherris' work is demonstrated through this fine, unique scent bottle. The shapely, gem-quality natural blue chalcedony bottle was carved from a single boulder of Turkish rough. Intricately sculpted all around it display both polished and matte areas, weighing approximately 816.26 carats. The Bolivian ametrine finial, weighing 102.65 carats, completes the elegant form and and is set atop a Brazilian frosted rock crystal quartz stopper, weighing 24.75 carats. The entire stopper fits into the bottle with the aid of a rubber o-ring that creates a secure seal. Height overall: 5in. Estimate: $5,500 - 7,500 Request Condition Report Footnote: This sculpture won an honorable mention in the 3rd Annual Engraving Competition held in Idar Oberstein, Germany.