Posted 9 years ago
martika
(149 items)
Years ago I used to collect different stones and minerals. One of my favourite stone is malachite - this green stone with bands of different green hues is beautiful and calming. I gave away or sold most of it, I just amassed too many things and I was on my way to become a hoarder - it annoyed my husband. This is what left - mostly gifts so they are close to my heart. The trinket box and a small bowl might be vintage, I assume it about the colour of gold gilding - I might be wrong.
Malachite was used as a pigment in green paints from antiquity until the early 19th century. And it's used for decorative purposes - the stone is used extensively to make beads, cabochons, boxes and carvings of any kinds.
The stone is a result of the weathering of copper ores (especially around limestones) and it is often found together with the blue azurite. Malachite is found worldwide - Congo, Zaire (my big carved ashtray is from Zaire), Mexico, France etc. In the past it was mined in big quantities in Russia, in the Ural mountains.
Great post Martika!
Ornemental stones are a beautiful area of collecting, endless things to learn about, and enjoying their pattern and colors is so satisfying!
The use of them in old paintings is very interesting, lapis lazuli have been the Base for blue during centuries!
Hope you aren't too sad to have only few left from your collection...
I VOTE FOR WOMAN CAVE FOR ALL OF US ;-D
I'm glad you like my post, Kyra! I completely agree with you about ornamental stones... And about woman cave too :D
And thank you folks for loving my stones xoxo
I enjoyed this post very much! Malachite is a favorite of mine. My malachite and malachite glass collections are also gone, and all that remains is a pretty sterling silver ring with a piece of malachite in the middle. I'm keeping that.
Thanks Efesgirl for your comment! May I be curious? Why you decided to get rid of your malachite and malachite glass collection? Sorry I'm just nosey...
martika - the usual reason: too much stuff. :-)
Beautiful beautiful malachite objects. The striations in those pieces are spectacular!
Thank you for your comment, Racer4four.
Efesgirl - Yes, I think most of the collectors sooner or later will have this problem. It's really hard to decide what has to go and what can stay.
Anything green.....LOVE IT!!! Excuse my ignorance, but how about America ~ found here, too??? [;>)
Hi Nevada. Imagine yes :) it is found in US too... I read some Arizona mines produce outstanding variety and quality... USA is blessed geologically