Historic Carved Black Opal together with the book "The Story of the Gems". Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia © 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

Weighing approximately 29.23 carats and measuring 38.0 x 15.0 x 8.0 mm. Sold for $28,060

Carved with a minutely detailed snake entwining the base of the stone, this elongated cabochon has predominantly brilliant broad flash reds, as well as green, blues and yellows. A unique and historic stone, it must surely have figured prominently and been exhibited in the Morgan Gem Collection—a notable portion of the Gem and Mineral collection of the American Museum of Natural History in New York. It was pictured in the delicately rendered watercolor frontispiece of The Story of the Gems: A Popular Handbook, by Herbert P. Whitlock, Curator of Minerals and Gems, American Museum of Natural History, published 1940; the opal is offered together with a copy of the aforementioned book. (2)

Accompanied by a copy of the book, "The Story of the Gems", by Herbert P. Whitlock, 1940.

Provenance: Property de-accessioned by the American Museum of Natural History

© 2002-2010 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

Bonhams & Butterfields. The Nature of Opals, 10 Nov 2010. 220 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco www.bonhams.com