[av_heading heading=’Bid Smart Briefs: Malachite’ tag=’h1′ style=” subheading_active=” show_icon=” icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ size=” av-desktop-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” subheading_size=” av-desktop-font-size=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” icon_size=” av-desktop-font-size-1=” av-medium-font-size-1=” av-small-font-size-1=” av-mini-font-size-1=” color=” custom_font=” subheading_color=” seperator_color=” icon_color=” margin=’,,35px,’ av-desktop-margin=” av-desktop-margin_sync=’true’ av-medium-margin=” av-medium-margin_sync=’true’ av-small-margin=’,,20px,’ av-mini-margin=” av-mini-margin_sync=’true’ headline_padding=” headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-desktop-headline_padding=” av-desktop-headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-medium-headline_padding=” av-medium-headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-small-headline_padding=” av-small-headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-mini-headline_padding=” av-mini-headline_padding_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ av-desktop-padding=” av-medium-padding=” av-small-padding=” av-mini-padding=” icon_padding=’10’ av-desktop-icon_padding=” av-medium-icon_padding=” av-small-icon_padding=” av-mini-icon_padding=” link=” link_target=” title_attr=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-lpjyjj3t’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]

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NEW YORK – Treasured for millennia, the green stone known as malachite continues to cast a spell. Often found with azurite, malachite derives its alluring hue from copper, and it is considered a minor ore of copper. It has been found across the world in locations as diverse as Mexico, Australia, Russia, Israel, France, England, Namibia, Gabon, the state of Arizona, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it has appeared in the form of stalactites measuring three feet long.

The ancient Egyptians embraced malachite thoroughly; there is evidence that they mined it in the Sinai as far back as 4,000 BCE. The hieroglyph for malachite, Wadj, does triple duty, representing the ancient Egyptian term for ‘green’ and also standing for the papyrus plant. Moreover, this afterlife-obsessed people described their form of heaven as a ‘field of malachite’. But perhaps surprisingly, the stone derives its name from the language of a different ancient civilization. The Greek phrase ‘molochites lithos’ translates as ‘mallow-green stone,’ evidently because it resembles the leaves of the mallow plant.

Chapultepec Castle, now a museum in Mexico City, installed a Malachite Hall in 1775, accessed by gilt-decorated malachite doors fashioned from stone imported from Russia. Not to be outdone, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna had a malachite-clad salon installed in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg in 1830. Today, most people probably encounter malachite for the first time when watching the award ceremonies for the World Cup. The 18K gold FIFA World Cup tournament trophy has bands of malachite in its base.

While malachite is regularly incorporated into jewelry, it does not lend itself to opacity. Any piece thicker than half a carat is too thick to allow light to shine through. Malachite does lend itself to being carved and polished, however. It has a hardness rating between 3.5 and 4.0 on the Mohs scale, and it is reportedly softer than window glass. The grandest pieces featuring the stone – as you will see in the slideshow below – are invariably urns, mantel clocks, and sizable furnishings boasting malachite veneers decorated with rings, undulating stripes or other naturally occurring patterns.

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Pair of 20th-century Empire-style gilt-bronze mounted urns veneered in malachite, which earned $10,000 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2021. Image courtesy of Hindman and LiveAuctioneers.
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Italian 18K gold, diamond and malachite necklace, which realized $8,500 plus the buyer’s premium in June 2022. Image courtesy of Fortuna and LiveAuctioneers.
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Large French Transitional-style four-door buffet veneered in malachite with gilt-bronze mounts, which achieved $26,000 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2021. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
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19th-century French gilt-bronze and malachite mantel clock, which brought $8,000 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2022. Image courtesy of Hindman and LiveAuctioneers.
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20th-century Louis XV-style gilt-bronze mounted bureau plat veneered in malachite, which made $10,000 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2021. Image courtesy of Hindman and LiveAuctioneers.
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Piaget ladies’ watch with 18K gold bracelet, diamond-ringed bezel and malachite dial, which went for $11,000 plus the buyer’s premium in July 2021. Image courtesy of Kodner Galleries Inc. and LiveAuctioneers.
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Custom-made Sherle & Wagner malachite sink with malachite and gold-plated fixtures, which sold for $9,750 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2022. Image courtesy of Burchard Galleries Inc. and LiveAuctioneers.
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Early 19th-century Italian micromosaic tiger plaque set in a malachite box, which attained $7,500 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2021. Image courtesy of Hindman and LiveAuctioneers.
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20th-century Louis XVI-style gilt-bronze mounted vitrine cabinet veneered in malachite, which earned $20,000 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2021. Image courtesy of Hindman and LiveAuctioneers.
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Malachite cup by Alfredo Ravasco, on an ebonized wooden base with a chiseled and enameled silver white peacock figure, which sold for €20,000 (about $21,400) plus the buyer’s premium in June 2021. Image courtesy of Il Ponte Casa d’Aste Srl and LiveAuctioneers.
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