Gold Collection Auction Dec 7-8
Published November 26th, 2008
Bonhams & Butterfields is offering the distinguished William and Marian Ghidotti Foundation Gold Collection in its upcoming Natural History auction on December 7 & 8, 2008 in Los Angeles.
A renowned collector, William Ghidotti’s name is intimately linked to the history of Nevada County, California, where, among other philanthropic projects, he and his wife Marian Ghidotti devoted themselves to the improvement of education in the region. Mr. Ghidotti’s acquisition of the acclaimed gold collection followed his discovery of an advertisement in the classified section of a San Francisco newspaper in June of 1965. The ad read: “To be sold. 25 beautiful irreplaceable quartz and gold specimens suitable for museum or private display.” A simple announcement, but beneath the modest offer lay the heartbreaking story of the decline in the fortunes of one of California’s most acclaimed gold mines, the “Original Sixteen to One Mine” of Alleghany. The mine was faced with such rapidly increasing operating costs in the mid-20th century that the owners were forced to sacrifice their collection of choice showpiece nuggets.
Top lots within the collection include a specimen weighing more than 36 troy ounces described as magnificent, displaying distinct perfect cubes (est. $125/150,000).
Another lot maintains a mass of large outstanding gold crystals, weighing more than 35-ounces, estimated at $100/125,000. Considered a rare find is a gold slickenside specimen. Slickenslide refers to a specimen displaying a vein of gold growing through quartz, the offered example weighs more than 36-ounces, with multiple veins and blue quartz seen beneath the layers of gold (est. $60/70,000).
Other gold highlights offered in December will include approximately fifty lots of nuggets and specimens from around the globe, including examples found in Brazil, Australia, Alaska as well as several counties in California. Highlighting the selection is an Eagle’s Nest Mine gold specimen in a shape similar to a seahorse and a crystallized gold specimen more than three-inches high which could bring as much as $30,000.
Auction previews open to collectors on December 5th and continue daily in Los Angeles from 10am-5pm until the start of the two-day auction. The illustrated catalog will be available online in the weeks preceding the sale at www.bonhams.com/us.
