Crystal Rock of Ages

We had our rock crystal moment a few years back. Obelisks, spheres, votives, and lamps made of quartz were de rigeur for a time. And while it was never as ubiquitous as coral (which, for the record, I still like), I got a little tired of it.

That is, until now. I was browsing through the catalogue for Christie's upcoming auction "European Furniture, Works of Art, Tapestries, and Carpets", to be held in New York on April 16. There are quite a few rock crystal pieces included in the sale, and now I'm smitten with the stuff all over again. What I am wondering, though, is if these pieces all came from the same collection. If so, aren't you curious about what the collector's home looked like?



Rock crystal tazza with rock crystal spheres, Modern, est. $8,000- $12,000


Pair of smoky rock crystal tazze, Modern, est. $6,000-$9,000


Pair of gilt metal, rock crystal, and glass wall lights, Modern, est. $6,000-$8,000


Pair of silvered-metal mounted rock crystal table lamps, Modern, est. $7,000 to $10,000


Pair of ormolu-mounted rock crystal lamps, Modern, est. $4,000 to $6,000

Image at top: Pair of rock crystal five-light candelabra, Modern, est. $8,000 to $12,000