MATERIAL MATTERS
This distinctive green mineral has been prized for its ornamental qualities for centuries. Jenny Oldaker explores its myriad uses and rich history…
Jenny Oldaker unearths the rich story of malachite and its captivating charms
With its intense green colour and distinctive striated pa!ern, it’s li!le wonder that malachite has long been a coveted decorative mineral. It is o"en associated with luxury: in the 19th century malachite was liberally splashed around the palaces of Russian royalty. Today it remains synonymous with opulent interiors – consider the grand pieces by Italian company Baldi Home Jewels, whose malachite furniture and bathrooms mirror the splendour of the mineral’s past. In contemporary interior schemes, elegantly mounted pieces of polished or raw natural malachite, sourced by specialists such as Dale Rogers, are popular too – si!ing as works of art in their own right.
The mineral has even inspired wallpaper, fabrics and other accessories from the likes of Tony Duque!e and Piero Fornase!i, for those who want to
maximise its vibrant shades and mesmerising pa!erns in their homes.
Malachite’s popularity is by no means a new phenomenon. This copper carbonate hydroxide is found in oxidised zones of copper deposits and there is evidence that the Egyptians mined malachite as early as 4000BC, using it in jewellery and ornaments and even crushing it to create paint and make-up. There’s evidence of ancient mines elsewhere too, including in Bronze Age Britain, where tools of stone and bone were used to extract the mineral from the Great Orme mines in North Wales.
It is Russia, however, that retains the closest association with malachite. Large quantities were discovered in the Ural Mountains and, in the 1800s, the stone became a "xture in the palaces of the Imperial Court – the magni "cent ‘ Malachite Room’ of the Hermitage in St Petersburg is a striking example of its use.
In terms of malachite antiques, many of the "nest examples – as you might expect – hail from these mines and this era. ‘ There were periods when malachite was used quite conspicuously,’ explains John Benjamin, jewellery expert on the
Antiques Roadshow. ‘ Particularly in the Georgian period, running up to the 1830s and 1840s. Because of its vibrant colours and marbling it was o!en used in brooches, particularly cameos. The "nest were probably those that came from Siberia and Russia – those were o!en mounted in a gold se#ing, carved with classical subjects in pro" le.’
A good example can be seen in the striking malachite cameo parure that recently sold at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury for £ 10,000 (right).
Form and function
Alongside its popular use in jewellery, antique malachite can be found in other collectable decorative items. ‘As a stone, it had a variety of uses because it was quite easy to cut, so you could have either thin plates of the material or large, solid items,’ says John. ‘As a decorative stone, it was used in functional pieces, such as ewers and urns – or in table implements, like gentlemen’s writing sets, mounted up with malachite panels, or in malachite seals that were used on the desk.’
Luc Preston of Regent Antiques agrees that some of the very best examples of malachite antiques come from Russia: ‘Items with Imperial Russian provenance o!en represent the highest end of the market, and any of the Imperial Russian makers
‘The best malachite is a variegated marbled colour, with di erent striations of green.’
would be highly sought a !er – for example, Ivan Ivanovich Galberg or the House of Fabergé.’ A pair of c1830 ormolu-mounted malachite vases by Galberg, currently on sale at Mayfair Gallery for £ 220,000, are a spectacular testament to this.
Malachite remained popular throughout Europe in the 19th century, but its quality dipped as the years passed. ‘As we move through the 19th century, the use of malachite becomes far more liberal, but it’s not as good quality,’ says John. ‘ The best malachite is a lovely variegated marbled colour, with di "erent striations of green, but as the century wore on, o!en the malachite didn’t quite have the same calibre, and you get darker, moss-green patches, showing a far lower quality of material.’
Malachite is a so!, porous stone that is sensitive to heat and acid. It requires gentle care, so if you’re lucky enough to own a piece of this fascinating mineral, avoid harsh cleaning methods such as ultrasonic or steam cleaning. A so! cloth or brush should be ample to keep it looking its best.
Turn the page for essential expert advice on collecting malachite