This fine meteorite fragment was part of an oriented meteorite as indicated by elongated regmaglypts burned into its crust. The crust is a dark umber with a light desert varnish; the exposed internal matrix exhibits variegated earth-hues, and has fractured along a line that fits the right palm as if it were a neolithic axe.
4¹⁄₄ x 3 x 1³⁄₄in. (10.4 x 7.4 x 4.2cm.)
478g.

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.
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Conditions of Sale
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This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

James HyslopHead of Department, Science & Natural History

A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

jhyslop@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7752 3205

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Lot Essay

Unlike 99% of all meteorites, oriented meteorites don’t invert or tumble as they plunge through Earth’s atmosphere. This only occurs when there is a fortuitous distribution of the meteorite’s mass as well as a fortuitous angle of entry into the atmosphere. As a result of maintaining the same axis of orientation, such meteorites gain a wonderful aesthetic appearance and their direction of flight is readily discerned. The parabolic curve on the leading face of oriented meteorites is the angle at which heat is most efficiently deflected from a falling body — and this same curve inspired the design of the heat shields for NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules.