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Morganite is also known as “pink emerald” or “pink beryl” is a rare light pink to rose-colored gem-quality variety of the mineral beryl, which is better know for its green variety (emerald) and blue variety (aquamarine). Morganite was named for financier (and gem and mineral collector) J.P. Morgan.
In explaining the rarity of this piece, one must consider that a piece with an approximate weight of 150 carats would be considered exceptional. This piece weighs approximately 23,500 carats! It is without question the largest carved art object known in the world today in this material. Indeed, it is over 4x to 10x larger than other known morganite carvings:
Cf: "Pinky" (click here to view online) carved in in 1991 by Manfred Wild of Iber, Germany, weighing 5325 carats. Current value $2.5 million (1993 purchase $110,000).
Cf: "Goddess of Immortality" on display at the American Museum of Natural History, NY, carved circa 1920, weighing 2230 carats, height 4.2".
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