Exquisite Horse Carved - Natural Malachite A Dynamic Sculpture - Height: 214 mm - Width: 159 mm- 1683 g - (1)

03
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15
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€ 1
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Georgia Foteinou
Expert
Selected by Georgia Foteinou

Holds BSc in geology and post-graduate qualifications in geochemistry.

Estimate  € 480 - € 530
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Description from the seller

A masterpiece of carving that highlights the unique motifs of Malachite — Presenting a sculpture of notable 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 artisanal mastery of the carving and the exuberant natural beauty of the mineral, whose dynamic pose enhances its veining and chromaticity. Close 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 defined musculature and harmonious proportions. The surface, mirror-polished, gains a silken luster that makes every detail of the mineral shine. The botryoidal structure of Malachite emerges in all its complexity: countless "eyes" and concentric bands can be admired, following one another to create a nearly hypnotic effect. The green tones range from light, bright hues to deep bands of dark forest green, drawing on the figure an abstract geological landscape. The mane and tail have been carved to follow and enhance these natural lines, giving the work a sense of fluid, organic movement. Malachite is a hydrated copper carbonate that forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore deposits. Its characteristic banded structure results from a slow and complex chemical deposition process. Infiltrations of copper-rich waters percolate through rocks and, as the chemical-physical conditions of the surrounding environment vary, deposit successive layers of mineral inside cavities and fractures. This stratified growth process, occurring over thousands of years, generates the typical botryoidal concretions and concentric designs that make every piece of Malachite absolutely unique. This sculpture, therefore, encapsulates in itself a geologic history spanning millennia. This rearing horse transcends the notion of a mere decorative object to stand as a piece of great collectible value and an artwork of glyptic art. Its substantial mass and the quality of the material make 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 strength and grace of the horse, a universal symbol, and that of the deep and slow transformations of the Earth’s crust. It is an object that catches the eye and stimulates the mind, blending aesthetics, science, and nature into a sculptural form of rare beauty.

Seller's Story

The Mineral Art Gallery offers minerals, fossils, shells and natural elements. Born in Italy in 2017, today she collaborates with international galleries and collectors, she is a direct importer of large minerals and naturalistic collectible elements; deals with the processing to insert them inside the living space. A section of the gallery was dedicated to the Wunderkammer, "chamber of wonders or cabinet of curiosities" in which Mirabilia elements are presented: naturalia and italiania, a union between "the present is the past". All lots are shipped via DHL Express and Fercam couriers, with insured parcel and tracking.
Translated by Google Translate

A masterpiece of carving that highlights the unique motifs of Malachite — Presenting a sculpture of notable 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 artisanal mastery of the carving and the exuberant natural beauty of the mineral, whose dynamic pose enhances its veining and chromaticity. Close 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 defined musculature and harmonious proportions. The surface, mirror-polished, gains a silken luster that makes every detail of the mineral shine. The botryoidal structure of Malachite emerges in all its complexity: countless "eyes" and concentric bands can be admired, following one another to create a nearly hypnotic effect. The green tones range from light, bright hues to deep bands of dark forest green, drawing on the figure an abstract geological landscape. The mane and tail have been carved to follow and enhance these natural lines, giving the work a sense of fluid, organic movement. Malachite is a hydrated copper carbonate that forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore deposits. Its characteristic banded structure results from a slow and complex chemical deposition process. Infiltrations of copper-rich waters percolate through rocks and, as the chemical-physical conditions of the surrounding environment vary, deposit successive layers of mineral inside cavities and fractures. This stratified growth process, occurring over thousands of years, generates the typical botryoidal concretions and concentric designs that make every piece of Malachite absolutely unique. This sculpture, therefore, encapsulates in itself a geologic history spanning millennia. This rearing horse transcends the notion of a mere decorative object to stand as a piece of great collectible value and an artwork of glyptic art. Its substantial mass and the quality of the material make 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 strength and grace of the horse, a universal symbol, and that of the deep and slow transformations of the Earth’s crust. It is an object that catches the eye and stimulates the mind, blending aesthetics, science, and nature into a sculptural form of rare beauty.

Seller's Story

The Mineral Art Gallery offers minerals, fossils, shells and natural elements. Born in Italy in 2017, today she collaborates with international galleries and collectors, she is a direct importer of large minerals and naturalistic collectible elements; deals with the processing to insert them inside the living space. A section of the gallery was dedicated to the Wunderkammer, "chamber of wonders or cabinet of curiosities" in which Mirabilia elements are presented: naturalia and italiania, a union between "the present is the past". All lots are shipped via DHL Express and Fercam couriers, with insured parcel and tracking.
Translated by Google Translate

Details

Number of objects
1
Main mineral
Exquisite Horse Carved - Natural Malachite
Mineral form
A Dynamic Sculpture
Supplement
Finely Carved Sculpture
Weight
1683 g
Country of origin
DR Congo
Height
214 mm
Width
159 mm
Depth
79 mm
ItalyVerified
14241
Objects sold
98.4%
protop

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