Lapis Lazuli slab H19cm W9cm 1.4Kg

Lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock prized for its blue colour and has been used as a semi-precious stone and pigment for thousands of years. It primarily consists of the mineral lazurite, which gives it its characteristic blue colour, and often contains calcite, pyrite (which adds a metallic gold-like flecking), and other minerals.

Historically, lapis lazuli has been mined from Afghanistan, especially from the Badakhshan region, which has been a major source since antiquity. The stone was highly valued by ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Sumerians, and later by Renaissance artists in Europe. In ancient Egypt, it was associated with the gods and was often used in amulets, scarabs, and burial masks (notably, it adorned the funeral mask of Tutankhamun).

In art, lapis lazuli was ground into powder to create the pigment ultramarine, one of the most valuable and sought-after colours for painting during the Renaissance due to its vividness and permanence.