Koller - Out of This World Tuesday, 28 June 2022, 4pm

1814* MODEL OF A HONEY BEE Apis mellifera Antonio Vallardi Editore Milan, Italy around 1920 Wood, plaster, papier-mâché, hand-painted 55 x 25 cm The company Antonio Vallardi Editore fromMilan published school texts, wall maps for schools, globes and unique school models of human body parts and animals, such as this oversized honey bee made of papier-mâché, wood and plaster. It is cut through the middle, which makes the inner life visible. The organs are movable parts and can be removed to study the anatomy of the insect. The example presented here is complete and in a very good con- dition. Only minor restorations on the wing are visible. CHF 2 000 / 4 000 (€ 1 940 / 3 880) 1815 PYRITE Spain 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 cm Provenance: Swiss private collection Also known as iron pyrite, and colloquially as fool‘s gold because of its metallic luster and golden color, pyrite belongs to the class of sulfides and sulfosalts. The word pyrite is derived from the Greek pyrites „lithos“ (pyr = fire, lithos = stone) and reflects the property of the mineral: when rubbed against steel or flint, sparks are produced. The mineral often forms crystals, mostly in the form of cubes and pentagon dodecahedra, or as octahedra and often as combinations. Among the Greeks, pyrite was considered a remedy to prevent „putrefaction of the blood.“ In esoteric circles, pyrite is still used today as a healing stone against arthritis and isias pain. CHF 2 000 / 3 000 (€ 1 940 / 2 910) | 14 Out of This World | Natural History, Space Exploration & Entertainment Memorabilia