Draped in large patches of fusion crust which formed as a result of frictional heating during its plunge through Earth’s atmosphere. Sections of the surface reveal a graphite-hued matrix packed with inclusions including the prominent CAIs, which are the oldest matter humankind can touch.

Allende fell to Earth on February 8, 1969 at 1:05 AM near Chihuahua, Mexico. Several new minerals have been discovered in Allende including a titanium oxide named panguite after the ancient Chinese god Pan Gu , the creator of the world who separated yin from yang, the earth from the sky.

Allende is the most studied meteorite in the world. Hundreds of scientific papers have been written about the meteorite and its components. The sample now offered contains tiny pre-solar grains that formed in the gaseous envelopes around dying stars long before the formation of our solar system 4.56 billion years ago. Also present in Allende are prominent white clasts, known as calcium-aluminum inclusions (CAIs), which are among the oldest materials formed within the solar system. Picked up on day of the fall, this is one of largest stones in private hands, and the largest to ever be offered at Christie’s. It is truly a piece worthy of any museum or collection in the world.

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.
190 mm x 160 mm x 100 mm (7¹⁄₂ x 6¹⁄₄ x 4in.)
4.8kg.

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.