Details
The Wold Cottage meteorite played a crucial role in the scientific community’s acceptance that rocks could indeed fall out of the sky — a notion previously met with disbelief or considered heretical. On December 13, 1795, Wold Cottage crashed to Earth just yards from farmworker John Shipley. Edward Topham, the owner of the Wold Cottage estate, was in London at the time, but he hurried home after reading accounts in the press. Topham was a well-known bon vivant with a sterling reputation. Certain that the stone was of great import, Topham arranged to have Wold Cottage placed on exhibition in London, helping to sway public opinion to embrace Shipley’s extraordinary claim. The scientific community took note, especially after Wold Cottage proved similar to a rock reported to have fallen out of the sky eighteen months earlier in Siena, Italy. The fact that two stones from different localities had common characteristics convinced many scientists of their possible extraterrestrial origin. This rectangular-like partial slice exhibits a prominent vein of impact melt darting across the left margin of a creamy silicate matrix accented with metallic flakes scattered throughout. This specimen also features two modest patches of fusion crust on one edge — a sought-after bonus in a rare offering of this highly historic meteorite. Modern cutting.

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


46 x 34 x 2mm (1.75 x 1.33 x 0.1 in.) and 11.47g (0.02 lbs)
Provenance
Natural History Museum, London
Brought to you by

Related Articles

Sorry, we are unable to display this content. Please check your connection.

More from
Deep Impact: Martian, Lunar and Other Rare Meteorites
Place your bid Condition report

A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

I confirm that I have read this Important Notice regarding Condition Reports and agree to its terms. View Condition Report