Impressive Victorian Demi Parure with Malachite

Description:

England, ca. 1870
5,4 x 4,7 cm/L. 4,2 cm
Consisting of brooch and pair of earrings. Brooch 750/000 yellow gold (tested), with fine granulation and wire work, central large oval - hollowed malachite, weight 44,3g. The matching earrings in 750/000 yellow gold (tested) set with malachite stones and granulation and fine wire work (settings probably in silver gilt), weight 19,3g.
Rhenish private collection
The colour spectrum of malachite ranges from bright light green to blackish green. The colouring substance of this gemstone is copper. Since the ancient world, this stone has been extremely popular due to its intense colour, and the legendary stone is often said to have magical and healing powers. One of the most important mining areas was the Urals. Especially in Russia in the 18th and 19th century, the green stone enjoyed great popularity and was not only processed into jewellery, but, like no other precious stone, used to decorate furniture and art objects. A large number of such works, some of them spectacular, can still be found today in the collections of Russian palaces. The Swedish royal family owns the Queen Desideria Malachite Parure, probably the most famous jewellery set with the luminous green stones.