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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ethnographic / Exquisite Horse Carved - Natural Malachite A Dynamic...
A masterpiece of carving that highlights the unique patterns of Malachite — we present a sculpture of remarkable visual and sculptural impact, depicting a rearing horse. The work has been masterfully carved from a single, massive block of high-quality fibrous Malachite, sourced from the renowned deposits of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This piece is not merely a naturalistic representation, but a true dialogue between the artisan's carving craftsmanship and the mineral's exuberant natural beauty, whose dynamic pose emphasizes its veining and chromaticism. Careful observation of the specimen reveals extraordinary sculptural skill. The horse is captured in the moment it rears, a gesture of power and freedom that the artist has translated with well-defined musculature and harmonious proportions. The surface, polished to a mirror, acquires a silk-like sheen that brings out every detail of the mineral. The botryoidal structure of Malachite emerges in all its complexity: countless “eyes” and concentric bands can be admired in sequence, producing an almost hypnotic effect. The green tones range from light, bright hues to deep bands of dark forest green, outlining on the figure an abstract geological landscape. The mane and tail have been carved to follow and enhance these natural lines, giving the artwork a sense of fluid, organic movement. Malachite is a hydrated copper carbonate that forms in oxidation zones of copper ore deposits. Its characteristic banded structure results from a slow, complex chemical deposition process. Infiltrations of copper-rich waters percolate through the rocks and, as the chemical–physical conditions of the surrounding environment vary, successive layers of mineral are deposited inside cavities and fractures. This layered growth process, occurring over thousands of years, generates the typical botryoidal concretions and concentric designs that make every Malachite piece absolutely unique. This sculpture, therefore, encapsulates a millennial geological chronicle. This rearing horse transcends the notion of a simple decorative object to stand as a piece of great collecting value and an artwork of glyptic art. It combines the elegance of a sculptor’s piece with the primordial allure of a precious mineral. Its substantial mass and the quality of the material render it an ideal “conversation piece” to enrich a luxury interior, a professional study, or an art gallery. As a central element of a modern “Cabinet of Curiosities” or Wunderkammer, this specimen tells a double story: that of the horse’s strength and grace, a universal symbol, and that of the deep, slow transformations of the Earth's crust. It is an object that captures the gaze and stimulates the mind, uniting aesthetics, science, and nature in a sculptural form of rare beauty.
Estimate:$532.21
Sold for:-
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Hammer price:
-
Estimate:
$532.21
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
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