Details
This legged, asymmetric body evocative of walking figure is the quintessence of an iron meteorite. Deep furrows, vibrant peaks, and regmaglypts (the thumbprint-like indentations produced during the meteorite’s fiery plunge through the upper atmosphere) are much in evidence. Draped in a dark gunmetal patina. This meteorite is testament to the monumental forces exerted on an object while punching through Earth’s atmosphere, and is a compellingly aesthetic example from the greatest meteorite shower in modern times.
434 x 3 x 212in. (11 x 7.3 x 6.5cm.)
788g.
Special notice
Specified lots are being stored at Crozier Park Royal (details below) or will be removed from Christie’s, 8 King Street, London, SW1Y 6QT by 5.00pm on the day of the sale. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. If the lot has been transferred to Crozier Park Royal, it will be available for collection from 12.00pm on the second business day following the sale. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Crozier Park Royal. All collections from Crozier 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, 8 King Street, it will be available for collection on any working day (not weekends) from 9.00am to 5.00pm
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.
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Lot Essay

This is a distinguished meteorite from the Sikhote-Alin event—the largest meteorite shower of the last several thousand years. Its journey began 320 million years ago, when a giant iron mass broke-off from its parent body in the asteroid belt and wandered through interplanetary space until it encountered Earth on 12 February 1947. When it slammed into the atmosphere it began to break apart, and then created a fireball brighter than the Sun as it sailed over the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in eastern Siberia. The shockwaves from the low altitude explosion of the main mass collapsed chimneys, shattered windows and uprooted trees. A 33 kilometer long smoke trail in the sky persisted for several hours, and many of the resulting meteorites produced impact craters as large as 26 meters—with nearly 200 craters having been catalogued. A famous painting of the event by artist and eye-witness P. I. Medvedev was reproduced as a postage stamp issued by the Soviet government in 1957 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of an event that observers likened to what was seemingly the end of the world. This is a fine example of a meteorite from an historic event, the largest meteorite shower of the modern era.

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