MINERALS AS DECORATIVE ART

Showcasing the Beauty of Science

- BOB JONES

One of the advantages of a long life of collecting is you see major changes in the hobby, including fads and expressions as they come and go. Do you remember pet rocks?

The biggest change in mineral collecting is the change from field collecting and buying minerals in small shops to purchasing at major shows and actual mining in pursuit of fine specimens. With that comes a change in how we view minerals as nature’s creative art. We now recognize minerals for their absolute natural beauty, and consider them a form of art rather than simply a scientific entity. I recall a lecture by Smithsonian’s Paul Desautels, at Tucson years ago, during which he said, “Fine minerals should be treated as antiques,” as in recognizing their historical value and beauty as objects.

A phrase often used today to describe exceptional minerals, is “eye candy.” This recognizes minerals that are exceptionally attractive and beautifully crystallized, whether they are rare or common. Such minerals are judged for their standard of excellence as proof positive of nature’s artistic ability.

Because of the above, the norm for rarity and eye appeal and market value is much higher, so only the wealthy can afford eye-candy minerals. The problem for dealers selling such specimens is a relatively small suite of buyers. Dealers need new markets to develop since superb examples of nature’s mineral art are so rare and impossible to duplicate. Each specimen, like art, is unique and should be treated as such. After all, minerals are the flowers of Mother Nature’s inorganic world, the best she can create.