Provenance: Swiss private collection

In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the untouched tomb of Tutankhamen, a pharaoh who ruled over Egypt almost 3,300 years ago. When Carter entered the tomb for the very first time and asked if he could see anything, he famously responded: ”Yes, wonderful things!” In a treasure chest, Carter discovered a large breastplate decorated with gold, silver and a strange beautiful gemstone. Today we know it was Libyan Desert Glass.
Studies show that Libyan desert glass formed about 29 million years ago after an asteroid or a meteorite hit the desert. The airburst from this event must have deposited a staggering 100 megatons of energy into the sky. The pressure and heat following this moment helped to form this magical material. The glass is nearly pure silica, which requires temperatures above 1'600 degrees Celsius to form – more than any rock on earth.

The huge example presented here is of the highest quality, showing an jade like green color with almost no inclusions whatsoever. Its one of the biggest pieces ever offered and would be a great addition to any collection.