IMCA Insights – July 2012
Ensisheim 2012
by Anne Black

First of all our sincere thanks to Zelimir Gabelica who had a very serious health scare at the beginning of this year and managed to recover on time to organize this year’s show. Thank you Zelimir, I don’t know what the Confrerie, the town of Ensisheim, France or the Meteorite Community would do without you!

The first order of business on Friday was of course to announce and welcome the new Confreres de Saint Georges, Gardiens de la Meteorite de Ensisheim. The first announced was Dr Arthur Ehlmann, Professor Emeritus and Curator of the Monnig Collection, who was visiting Ensisheim for the very first time, and was very surprised since somehow no one had warned him.

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Dr. A. Ehlmann, a brand new Guardien
(Photo courtesy of H. Strufe)

Also recognized were Dr. Ludovic Ferriere, Curator of the Meteorite Collection of the Museum of Vienna, Madame Comette whose house was the impact site of the Draveil meteorite, Dima Sadilenko, Rob Wesel, and several others whose names I did not catch, very sorry.

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All the new Guardiens
(Photo courtesy of H. Strufe)

And this was followed by a welcoming speech by Zelimir and of course a glass of the local wine. Then everyone convene under the large white tent raised along the church for a nice dinner catered by the “Boeuf Rouge”, a great restaurant just a bit further on the square. And of course for a whole lot of talking.

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Martin (Karmaka) and Roger Warin
(Photo courtesy of H. Strufe)

Saturday morning the sun was shining bright for the first full day of the Show. As usual it occupied the whole upper floor of the Palais de la Regence, across the square from the church where the meteorite had been hanging in chains for hundreds of years. At the top of a long circular stone staircase, the show is divided in several connecting rooms with high carved wood ceilings.

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First Room
(Photo courtesy of O. Girard)

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A lot more NWAs
(Photo courtesy of O. Girard)

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A giant Sikhote-Alin shrapnel piece
(Photo courtesy of H. Strufe)

Then on to the Main Room with a lot more dealers, and meteorites.

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The main room as you enter it
(Photo courtesy of O. Girard)

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Different view of the Main Room
(Photo courtesy of O. Girard)

And a few highlights:

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Some Tissints still available
(Photo courtesy of O. Girard)

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A large choice of meteorite slices
(Photo courtesy of H. Strufe)

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Laurent Jaworski and Madame Comette
(Photo courtesy of O. Girard)

Thank you Laurent! Your heart is in the right place!

See you all again next year. According to Hanno Strufe’s website, the Ensisheim 2013 show is only 340 days away, as I write this. Time to make your reservations for the annual pilgrimage to where it all began.

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The Ensisheim meteorite in its historical case
(Photo courtesy of H. Strufe)

This article has been edited by Anne Black and Norbert Classen.

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