MASSIVE DRONINO METEORITE — EXTRATERRESTRIAL SCULPTURE FROM OUTER SPACE, Iron, ataxite (ungrouped)Ryazan district, Russia (54° 44' N, 41° 25' E)
Dronino is a highly exotic meteorite. No other meteorite looks like this. The highly crenelated signature surface texture of Dronino is seen throughout; the result of a centuries-long interaction of this meteorite’s unique composition with the soil and groundwater. This intriguing extraterrestrial sculptural form can be oriented in a variety of ways—and some may find the reverse to be more appealing. With a platinum-hued patina, this is a decorative example of a singularly exotic meteorite. Accompanied by a custom armature.
468 x 338 x 109 mm. (18.33 x 13.33 x 4.25 in.)
52.9 kg. (116.5 lbs.)
This is an unusually large example of an exceedingly exotic meteorite—there is no other meteorite that looks like Dronino. First discovered by a mushroom hunter in Russia in 2000, specimens of the Dronino meteorite shower are part of the rare “ungrouped” population of iron meteorites. While the vast majority of iron meteorites are members of established chemical groups, 11% have no chemical relation to anything previously known; Dronino is one of these exotic, ungrouped irons. The implication of Dronino’s unique chemical signature is that it originated from a previously unknown parent asteroid. Dronino meteorites fell approximately 20 km. from the site of an ancient town founded in 1152. As nothing was ever written about what would have been an extremely memorable event of a fireball accompanied by sonic booms and a smoke trail, it can be inferred Dronino‘s arrival occurred before the area was populated. Given the extent of terrestrial sculpting, a descent to Earth more than a millennium ago can be confidently fixed. This is certainly among the largest Dronino meteorite specimens in North America—perhaps the largest; it appears that no museum in North America has a specimen of Dronino as large as the current offering.
Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue note.
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Dronino is a highly exotic meteorite. No other meteorite looks like this. The highly crenelated signature surface texture of Dronino is seen throughout; the result of a centuries-long interaction of this meteorite’s unique composition with the soil and groundwater. This intriguing extraterrestrial sculptural form can be oriented in a variety of ways—and some may find the reverse to be more appealing. With a platinum-hued patina, this is a decorative example of a singularly exotic meteorite. Accompanied by a custom armature.
468 x 338 x 109 mm. (18.33 x 13.33 x 4.25 in.)
52.9 kg. (116.5 lbs.)
This is an unusually large example of an exceedingly exotic meteorite—there is no other meteorite that looks like Dronino. First discovered by a mushroom hunter in Russia in 2000, specimens of the Dronino meteorite shower are part of the rare “ungrouped” population of iron meteorites. While the vast majority of iron meteorites are members of established chemical groups, 11% have no chemical relation to anything previously known; Dronino is one of these exotic, ungrouped irons. The implication of Dronino’s unique chemical signature is that it originated from a previously unknown parent asteroid. Dronino meteorites fell approximately 20 km. from the site of an ancient town founded in 1152. As nothing was ever written about what would have been an extremely memorable event of a fireball accompanied by sonic booms and a smoke trail, it can be inferred Dronino‘s arrival occurred before the area was populated. Given the extent of terrestrial sculpting, a descent to Earth more than a millennium ago can be confidently fixed. This is certainly among the largest Dronino meteorite specimens in North America—perhaps the largest; it appears that no museum in North America has a specimen of Dronino as large as the current offering.
Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue note.
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