Chess set - Malachite, white marble





Add to your favourites to get an alert when the auction starts.

Holds a bachelor's degree in history of art and architecture, with 12 years of experience in decorative arts.
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 127923 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
Circular Malachite and Marble Chessboard – Italian artisanal craftsmanship, 1950s/60s – Ø 23 cm
Refined circular chessboard entirely handmade in natural malachite and white marble, expression of the Italian decorative lapidary tradition of the postwar period, datable to the 1950s/60s.
Each individual element has been cut, joined and polished by hand. The malachite pieces display the typical concentric veins and the intense green stratifications that make each specimen unique in design and chromatic depth. The alternation with the light marble creates an elegant, timeless contrast, framed by a slender gold-tone edge that precisely defines the playing area.
The circular base, also clad with malachite slabs carefully combined for visual continuity, gives the piece a strong scenographic impact, making it not only a functional object but a true furnishing element.
Diameter: 23 cm.
Era: circa 1950s–1960s.
Materials: natural malachite and white marble.
Technique: manual artisanal craftsmanship.
The chessmen are turned wood, complete for both sides, proportioned to the board and coherent with the era’s aesthetics.
Very good condition for its age. Shows slight signs of time compatible with the period, with no structural breaks. The natural veining, micro variations and small irregularities of malachite are intrinsic characteristics of the stone and attest to its authenticity and value.
The photos are an integral part of the description. Guaranteed careful packaging entrusted to professionals in the field.
Seller's Story
Circular Malachite and Marble Chessboard – Italian artisanal craftsmanship, 1950s/60s – Ø 23 cm
Refined circular chessboard entirely handmade in natural malachite and white marble, expression of the Italian decorative lapidary tradition of the postwar period, datable to the 1950s/60s.
Each individual element has been cut, joined and polished by hand. The malachite pieces display the typical concentric veins and the intense green stratifications that make each specimen unique in design and chromatic depth. The alternation with the light marble creates an elegant, timeless contrast, framed by a slender gold-tone edge that precisely defines the playing area.
The circular base, also clad with malachite slabs carefully combined for visual continuity, gives the piece a strong scenographic impact, making it not only a functional object but a true furnishing element.
Diameter: 23 cm.
Era: circa 1950s–1960s.
Materials: natural malachite and white marble.
Technique: manual artisanal craftsmanship.
The chessmen are turned wood, complete for both sides, proportioned to the board and coherent with the era’s aesthetics.
Very good condition for its age. Shows slight signs of time compatible with the period, with no structural breaks. The natural veining, micro variations and small irregularities of malachite are intrinsic characteristics of the stone and attest to its authenticity and value.
The photos are an integral part of the description. Guaranteed careful packaging entrusted to professionals in the field.
