Rock stars at Ewbanks

Precious rocks from out of this world will be offered in Ewbank’s sale of works of art and furniture on Friday, November 20.

A single-owner collection of 46 meteorites is one of the most unusual – and rarest – offerings the leading Surrey auctioneers have even been commissioned to sell.

Meteorites are debris from asteroids or comets that have survived impact with the Earth. Around 4,000 years ago, a shower of the space rocks occurred in Argentina over an area of 320 square kilometres, now known as the Campo del Cielo (Field of Heaven).

They came from a pure iron asteroid from the belt between Mars and Jupiter and Ewbank’s sale will feature one of the largest pieces, which at 70kg (174lbs) is so heavy it needs a custom-made steel table to hold it.

Exported prior to the recent ban on removing this material from Argentina, a specimen of this size, is becoming increasingly rare. Its many beautiful characteristics unique to meteorites include thumbprint-like surface features caused by melting during its fiery journey through Earth’s atmosphere.  It is estimated at £4,000-6,000.

Estimates for similar smaller examples start at £80 and the collection is expected to raise a total of around £25,000.