Copper "Skull"

A unique old classic from the upper peninsula of Michigan from the collection of my grandfather, Dave Bergman. For those who don't know, Dave Bergman was the foreman and operated the Sweet Home Mine for my father in the late 1970s when they were mining world-class Rhodochrosite specimens.

This specimen is a really interesting example of the famous Copper "skulls" from Michigan, which formed as a result of Copper flowing over rounded conglomerate, which later disappeared leaving only the hollow shells of Copper behind. What makes this piece stand out from others I've seen from this area is the fact that it doesn't feature a lone "skull" but rather a semi-"flower"-shaped group featuring a few "skulls" with isolated "petals" of Copper flaring out from the sides.

The piece has outstanding three-dimensional form and looks amazing from several angles. It's rare to find multiple "skulls" on one piece, let alone a large showy group with such eye-catching form. To top it off, the piece has a rich bronze patina all the way around which is a great characteristic of these old-time specimens. I love how beautifully the piece sits and displays on its own without the aid of a base or clay. This is a special piece, not only because it came from my grandfather, but because it truly does not resemble any other Copper "skull" specimen I've seen from this tremendously rich and historic mining district.

For reference, my grandfather acquired this specimen from the estate of Waldo Butler. Waldo acquired it from the estate of his father, Bert S. Butler, the famed author of the USGS Professional Paper 144 "The copper deposits of Michigan" from 1929

Ex. Dave Bergman collection
Ex. Waldo Butler collection
Ex. Bert S. Butler collection

Specimen # TUC31710