World's Largest Star Rose Quartz - Michael Scott Collection

The "Ceylon Sinflower" is another special setting from the Michael Scott Collection. It is actually a model of an almost life-size sunflower incorporating a 400.6-carat Ceylon Yellow Sapphire as its centerpiece, mounted in 18 karat red gold and accented with diamonds. The sunflower is mounted on a stem in a rock crystal vase. The Sunflower is a common flower of tropical countries like Sri Lanka (Ceylon), and since the main gemstone incorporated in the flower, the Yellow Sapphire, originated from Sri Lanka, the designers of this piece opted to create a flower commonly found in Sri Lanka, and named it the "Ceylon Sunflower"
It is not exactly known how and why the name "Ceylon Sunflower" was eventually corrupted to "Ceylon Sinflower." Possibly it may have something to do with the legend of Adam and Eve being cast out of "The Garden of Eden"after eating the forbidden apple, the unfortunate sinners eventually landing in Ceylon, where Adam left his footprint at the summit of the 2,243 meter mountain, the Adam's Peak.
It is important to note, that the "Ceylon Sinflower" is not a main setting in the collection, but a derivative from a dual setting piece, the original setting being a necklace, the centerpiece of which was dismantled to create the "Sin flower."
Images of both the original setting and the derived setting are given below.
Peter, I do hope I have answered your question.

The legend related to the "Ceylon Sin Flower" is quite interesting; but the "Sapphire Cobra Setting" depicting a 64-carat, oval-cut, cornflower blue, Sri Lanka blue sapphire guarded by a solid-gold cobra, whose image has been uploaded by Afrojack, is without any doubt inspired by the popular legend in countries of South Asia, such as India and Sri Lanka, that living King Cobras can produce a valuable pearl in its hood, that emits light in darkness. As the legend goes, there are times particularly in the night when the King Cobra would like to bring out this light-emitting pearl through its mouth, which it guards zealously from a possible intruder. The pearl is known as "Naga Mani" in India and "Naga Menik" in Sri Lanka. Several meta-physical properties are associated with the possessor of an authentic "Naga Mani" such as power, position, leadership, victory, great courage, success, fortune, wealth and happiness.
Hence the solid-gold cobra guarding the Sri Lanka blue sapphire is based on the myth of the King Cobra and the Naga Mani.

Thank you Sunil for enlightening us on the legend of the King Cobra and the Naga Mani.

The most stunning pieces in the Michael Scott Collection are without any doubt the numerous carvings and sculptures which he acquired from the renowned gem-carving villages of Idar-Oberstein in Germany, where the ancient tradition of gem-carving is believed to have existed since the period of the ancient Roman Empire. The collection includes 13 gem carvings by contemporary German artist Bernd Munsteiner and four intricate carvings of animals by German artist Gerd Dreher. However, the most striking of all the gem-carvings is "The Repose" by Gunter Petty of Idar-Oberstein executed in 1991, representing a nude male youth in the squatting position, carved out of an enormous quartz crystal, sitting on an obsidian base, with an 18-karat gold cloth draped over his lap; the whole sculpture weighing 9,000 carats.
Another stunning piece by Gunter Petty is the "Magnolia Flower" carved out of natural Ametrine Quartz, which has shades of purple and yellow in the same crystal and also using yellow gold in the setting - total weight 1,250 carats.

Other stunning gem-carvings from Idar-Oberstein include the Agate Starfish and Mephisto.
The Agate Starfish by Gerd Dreher is carved from a single piece of agate material, weighing 9,306 carats. This is indeed a masterpiece in gem-carving given the minute details in external structure of the star fish excellently portrayed in the carving.
The "Mephisto" is a sinister-looking, 5,650-carat bust of Satan, with piercing blood-red eyes and red-gold horns and collar, carved from a single ruby crystal from Tanzania weighing 5,750 carats, and mounted on an obsidian base.

Another stunning gemstone sculpture from Idar-Oberstein is the Aquamarine-Beryl Owl sculpted from a single large aquamarine crystal from Nigeria.

Bernd Munsteiner was not only an accomplished gem sculptor from Idar-Oberstein, but also a master-cutter of gemstones. He invented the "fantasy cut" that redefined how precious stones can be faceted to best interact with light. The "fantasy cut" involves inward cuts, creating grooves on the back and front of the stone. The result is that each side reflects against the other, giving the piece even greater depth and vibrancy. One of his most dramatic pieces is entitled Envy - Reflections & Perspectives, and consists of a 114-carat verdelite tourmaline “fantasy cut” to highlight the stone’s rich bluish green hue.

This comment was made by Greg Martino via email to me

"I bought the rough that this sphere was made from. It is not a cabuchon but a sphere. The sphere was originally cut in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The rough originates from a deposit in the south of Bahia near Itambé. I also sold this sphere to Juergen Henn in Idar Oberstein, Germany around 1990. He sold it to Michael Scott through intermediaries in California including Michael Ridding of Silverhorn Jewelers in Montecito, California. Since the cut stone is a sphere and not a cabuchon there is no need for alignment. If you want more information feel free to contact me."