A LAPIS LAZULI SPHERE

A LAPIS LAZULI SPHERE

Afghanistan

14 cm in diameter. Beautifully polished, and presented on a circular base. 

From indigo to ultramarine, lapis lazuli can be found speckled with gold (pyrite) and white (calcite) as in this fine example. A beautiful specimen, evoking images of planet Earth.  

The main deposit of Lapis Lazuli (from the Latin lapis for "stone", and the Arabic azul for "deep blue") is found in the Sar-e-Sang mine in the Kokcha River Valley of Afghanistan. The popularity of this semi-precious stone has persisted through the centuries; in the time of the ancient Sumerian dynasties (2900-2340 BCE), lapis lazuli was extremely popular, as it was believed to have the ability to ward off evil. More than 50 pounds of raw lapis lazuli were found in the Syrian palace of Ebla, and hundreds of objects fashioned from this fabled stone (such as jewelry, inlays, cylinder seals, and amulets) were found in the tombs of the royal cemetery of Ur.