The cubes of natural form, the largest measuring 1³⁄₄-inches, supported by original matrix. Presented on red base with case.

6¹⁄₂ x 15³⁄₈ x 10³⁄₄in. (16.5 x 39 x 27.4cm.)
in case: 15 x 22¹⁄₈ x 16¹⁄₄in. (38 x 56 x 41.3cm.)

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.
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This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

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Lot Essay

Returning from his second voyage to the North-West passage in 1577 the privateer Martin Forbisher (1535-1594) carried as ballast for this three ships several hundred tons of gold bearing ore. After much heated debate at the assaying, involving the mathematician and alchemist John Dee (1527-1609), the true nature of the mineral was revealed as pyrite — fool’s gold.

Such is the quality of the yellow lustre from pyrite that many have be drawn to it over the centuries. Here it presents itself as a large crystal revealing the underlying cubic arrangement of iron and sulfur atoms; the microscopic hermetically revealed at the macroscopic level of a near-prefect Platonic solid. The cube is one of the purest geometrical and sculptural forms. The perfect shape of pyrite appears man made and is yet sculpted only by nature.