A TIGER'S EYE JEWELRY BOX Prieska, Pixley ka Seme District...
41⁄8 x 31⁄4 x 11⁄2 in. (10.5 x 8.2 x 4.0 cm.)
479 g.
Provenance
Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 21 October 2025, lot 111.
Lot Essay
Tiger's eye, a chatoyant gemstone with a golden-brown color and silky luster, is primarily sourced from South Africa, specifically the Northern Cape Province. The stone itself dates to ancient history, and was created when the earth's oxygen level started to rise over 1 billion years ago! It's a variety of quartz, known for its distinctive bands of light that create a captivating "cat's eye" effect. These unique patterns are due to the alteration of original material called crocidolite into quartz and iron oxides in just the right proportions that we can enjoy it as a beautiful stone. Too much iron or too little quartz, and the resulting rock is simply "rock" not fit for carving.
Tigers Eye is a beautiful stone that is loved by many cultures and enjoying somewhat of an uptick in appreciation today for its versatile use in jewelry and beads. However, skilled artisans have been making special objects with the material of more rarified quality, such as jewelry boxes. From a collection put together in the 1980s, this is a custom crafted box crafted with meticulous care for both the quality of material and of the construction itself. This kind of matched quality stone for a solid box, is of a higher level than typically seen.
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
41⁄8 x 31⁄4 x 11⁄2 in. (10.5 x 8.2 x 4.0 cm.)
479 g.
Provenance
Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 21 October 2025, lot 111.
Lot Essay
Tiger's eye, a chatoyant gemstone with a golden-brown color and silky luster, is primarily sourced from South Africa, specifically the Northern Cape Province. The stone itself dates to ancient history, and was created when the earth's oxygen level started to rise over 1 billion years ago! It's a variety of quartz, known for its distinctive bands of light that create a captivating "cat's eye" effect. These unique patterns are due to the alteration of original material called crocidolite into quartz and iron oxides in just the right proportions that we can enjoy it as a beautiful stone. Too much iron or too little quartz, and the resulting rock is simply "rock" not fit for carving.
Tigers Eye is a beautiful stone that is loved by many cultures and enjoying somewhat of an uptick in appreciation today for its versatile use in jewelry and beads. However, skilled artisans have been making special objects with the material of more rarified quality, such as jewelry boxes. From a collection put together in the 1980s, this is a custom crafted box crafted with meticulous care for both the quality of material and of the construction itself. This kind of matched quality stone for a solid box, is of a higher level than typically seen.
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
