Deep Impact: 68 ‘otherworldly’ specimens land in Christie’s Mar. 28 auction

Lunar necklace, featuring 48 beads fashioned from a lunar meteorite, estimated at $140,000-$200,000. Image courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2023

NEW YORK – From March 14-28, Christie’s will offer its annual, online-only sale of important meteorites, Deep Impact: Lunar, Martian, and Other Rare Meteorites, which features 68 otherworldly specimens. View the fully illustrated catalog on LiveAuctioneers.

Deep Impact offers collectors a compelling selection of one of the rarest and most sought-after natural wonders; every known meteorite on Earth collectively weighs less than the world’s annual output of gold. This is a highly attractive sale for all types of collectors. Estimates range from $700 to $500,000 and more than half of the lots are offered at no reserve.

Christie’s Head of Department, Science & Natural History James Hyslop said: “Meteorites inspire us the way no other object can: holding a piece of another world in your hand is an experience you never forget. In this sale we have curated a selection of meteorites that are among the most beautiful and important in the world.”

With no reserve, leading the sale is NWA 12691 – the Lunar Necklace, the first and only beaded necklace made of the Moon to appear at auction. It carries an estimate of $140,000-$200,000. Each of the 48 beads in this stunning object weighs approximately 3.66 carats and was expertly fashioned from a lunar meteorite — a piece of the Moon ejected into space as the result of an asteroid impact. The Moon is among the rarest substances on Earth. Every known piece of the Moon extant on our home planet could fit in the back of a large SUV, and much of this material is held by institutions, including NASA. Moon rocks are readily identified by specific geological, mineralogical, chemical and radiation signatures and many, including the specimens from which these beads were fabricated, are nearly identical to the Moon rocks returned to Earth by Apollo astronauts. “If you love her to the Moon and back,” said Hyslop, “it’s nice to have something to show for the journey.”

Gibeon meteorite, estimated at $120,000-$180,000. Image courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2023

Other important lots include one of the most aesthetic iron meteorites known, featuring a Macovich Collection provenance. This Gibeon meteorite is described as the epitome of natural sculpture from outer space and is estimated at $120,000-$180,000. Older than the Earth, it originated in the molten core of an asteroid between Jupiter and Mars. With sumptuous curves, this extraterrestrial sculpture also contains a great rarity for a large meteorite — a naturally formed hole. “This meteorite is at the intersection of art, science and existential wonderment — can there be a greater conversation piece?” said Macovich Collection Curator Darryl Pitt.

Henbury meteorite that bears a resemblance to an emoji, estimated at $40,000-$60,000. Image courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2023

Also originating from the core of a shattered asteroid is the Henbury meteorite, described as a matchless anthropomorphic Australian meteorite and having an estimate of $40,000-$60,000. It landed in Australia thousands of years ago and bears a striking resemblance to the emoji that communicates awe and wonder 😮 — two of the sentiments evoked by this sale.

The sale also features nine different offerings of pallasitic meteorites, the most beautiful extraterrestrial substance known. Containing gemstones from outer space, including peridot, the birthstone of August, estimates range from $2,500–$150,000. Exemplifying this category is a select complete slice of the Imilac meteorite, which is estimated at $12,000-$18,000.

Complete slice of the Imilac pallasitic meteorite, estimated at $12,000-$18,000. Image courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2023

Highlights also include a slice of a meteorite that arrived in 1492 in Ensisheim in northeastern France, which had been chained up in a church so it could not fly back into the sky the same way it arrived. Its estimate is $4,000-$6,000. In addition, the March 28 sale features numerous specimens of lunar and martian meteorites, with estimates ranging from $5,000–$250,000.

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