Whether positioned on a pedestal, displayed in a library bookshelf, or situated on a coffee table, fine minerals and crystal specimens make for great accents in any luxury home.
By Alyssa Gautieri
Photos courtesy Astro Gallery of Gems
Located on 5th Avenue in New York City, Astro Gallery of Gems is the largest mineral gallery in the world. A favorite destination for top designers, the gallery embraces a movement that has skyrocketed within the last year — incorporating natural art into home décor. “Depending on the décor or style of the room, you have a world of different things to choose from,” explains Dennis Tanjeloff, the owner and president of Astro Gallery of Gems.
Amethyst
Depending on rarity, color, aesthetics, quality and perfection, Amethyst gems are available for a range of prices, starting as low as $30 and exceeding more than $75,000.
While Amethysts are more readily available than their counterparts, this is not the only reason for their popularity. “The purple color, size and shape of the crystals are so amazing to the eyes that even the most novice people are wondered by them,” Tanjeloff says. “People are so fascinated by the fact that this just comes out of the ground this way.”
Amethysts, uniquely crafted by mother nature, may resemble anything from a tree, flower or animal. “They are so unique,” Tanjeloff adds, “they are stand out pieces in any décor.”
Agate
From kitchen countertops and columns to jewelry and belt buckles, agate can be used for almost any purpose. “I would say the number one item right now in interior design is agate,” says Tanjeloff on the crystal’s growing popularity. “People have so many different ways of applying the product, it is almost hard now not to see agate everywhere.”
From bright pink to calming yellow, agate appears in a range of colors. The high desire for agate comes from its rich color, translucence, and the beauty of its striations and shape.
Blue Coral
Bring the atmosphere of the sea into your home with aquatic fossils. “Sea shells and corals have always been very popular in summer homes,” Tanjeloff explains, “but now it seems that they have been incorporated into almost any type of room. Now you see corals almost anywhere.”
Crafted by the ocean, no two aquatic fossils are alike. “They really can open up a room because no one has two of the same,” Tanjeloff says. “They are really unique conversation pieces.”
