The Damien Hirst Opal Collection

A Unique Convergence of Australian Opal, Contemporary Art and Intellectual Property

There are occasions when an object transcends its material form to become something far rarer: a moment in the history of contemporary art. This collection represents one such opportunity.

Presented here is a remarkable collection of 61 Australian Opals, weighing a combined 715 carats, assembled for an exclusive photographic project for internationally renowned contemporary artist Damien Hirst and Science Limited. Created as the foundation for a body of photographic artwork, these gemstones exist at the intersection of natural history, artistic vision and collectable investment.

Throughout his career, Damien Hirst has transformed extraordinary natural and precious materials into internationally recognised works of contemporary art. Whether employing formaldehyde, butterflies, diamonds or other rare materials, the significance has always extended beyond the medium itself. The artistic process, provenance and cultural context become inseparable from the object.

One of the defining examples is For the Love of God, the diamond encrusted skull that became one of the most recognised works of contemporary art of the twenty first century. It demonstrated how exceptional natural materials, when combined with artistic vision and provenance, can transcend their intrinsic value to become cultural artefacts collected on a global stage.

This collection reflects that same philosophy. The Opals were not assembled simply as gemstones. They were selected as the original creative medium for an exclusive photographic project undertaken with Science Limited. As a result, they represent more than an exceptional gemstone portfolio. They are the documented source material from which the artwork was created.

Every Opal within the collection possesses its own individual identity. Together they reveal the extraordinary diversity of Australia's national gemstone, ranging from luminous white body tones through to deep black Opal, each displaying vibrant flashes of green, blue, red, orange and violet. Their combined presence forms a visual study of colour that could only have been assembled through careful selection across multiple Australian mining sources.

Unlike conventional gemstone collections, this is not simply an accumulation of valuable stones. It is a complete artistic resource, preserved as a single body of work. Included within the acquisition are the associated photographic rights, creating an exceptional opportunity to acquire both a significant gemstone collection and an intellectual property asset connected to one of the most influential figures in contemporary art.

In the world of fine art, provenance is often as valuable as rarity. Collections with documented artistic significance rarely return to the market intact, and once dispersed can never truly be recreated. The combination of exceptional Australian Opal, artistic collaboration and associated rights places this offering within a category seldom encountered by collectors.

Collection Details

• 61 Australian Opals

• Total Weight: 715 Carats

• Mixed Cabochon Cuts

• Mixed Shapes and Sizes

• Body Tone: White to Black

• Exceptional Multicoloured Play of Colour

• Origin: Australia

• Mixed Australian Mine Sources

Offered exclusively as a single acquisition, this collection is ideally suited to private collectors, museums, galleries, family offices, luxury brands and investment groups seeking an asset that bridges the worlds of fine gemstones, contemporary art and intellectual property.

The opportunity to acquire the original gemstone collection assembled for this artistic project, together with the associated photographic rights, represents an offering of exceptional rarity and enduring significance.

Expressions of Interest are invited from qualified purchasers.

Comprehensive provenance documentation, photography, rights information and confidential acquisition discussions are available upon request.