Quartz Sphere

Summary

The world's largest, flawless quartz sphere is 242,323 carats, weighs 106.75 lbs. (48.5 kg), and measures 12.9 inches (32.7 cm) in diameter, from the collections of the United States National Museum, now the National Museum of Natural History. The sphere was cut and polished in China in 1923-1924, and the crystal from which it was cut may have come from Burma. The sphere was a gift of Mrs. Worcester Reed Warner in 1930.

Subject

• National Museum of Natural History (U.S.)
• United States National Museum
• Hall of Gems and Minerals (Exhibition) (1958: United States National Museum)
• National Museum of Natural History (U.S.) Dept. of Mineral Sciences

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Notes

See SIA2009-2187 or Neg. # 37287 for an image of the National Museum of Natural History's Hall of Gems & Minerals exhibiting Quartz Sphere

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 44, Folder: 18

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

c. 1930s

Restrictions & Rights

No Restrictions

Topic

• Warner, Mrs. Worcester Reed
• Quartz sphere
• Warner Quartz Sphere
• Geology
• Mineralogy
• Exhibitions
• Gifts
• United States National Museum

Form/Genre

• Photographic print
• Exhibit

ID Number

SIA2010-0188 or 10484-A or MAH-10484A

Physical description

Color: Black and White; Size: 8w x 10h; Type of Image: Exhibit; Medium: Photographic print

Full Record

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