Similar to lots 50 and 51. Gibeon meteorites originated 4.5 billion years ago from the molten core of an asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter whose shattered remains are part of the asteroid belt. An impact event ejected what was to become the Gibeon mass into interplanetary space where it wandered for millions of years before achieving an Earth-crossing orbit and raining down at the edge of the Kalahari Desert in Namibia. In previous generations, indigenous tribesmen recovered the smallest meteorite shards and fashioned them into spear points and other tools. The reverse face evidences regmaglypts, an aerodynamic feature that occurs when a meteorite plunges through the atmosphere — and a rarity when it comes to Gibeon meteorites. The angular, arrow-like shape is the result of terrestrial forces; this meteorite naturally cleaved along its crystalline planes (see lots 30 and 67) including the base which is completely flat — a natural delimitation of a metallic crystal. Such cleaving and the presence of the large scoop seen here are due to terrestrialization i.e., the result of a meteorite’s exposure to Earth’s climate from the time of its arrival to its recovery, a period in this instance of approximately 10,000 years. The fruit of these processes is this uniquely engaging otherworldly cursor-like abstract form.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.

139 x 202 x 128mm (5.5 x 8 x 5 in.) and 5.277 kg (11.66 lbs)