Round Malachite Center Table

ROUND MALACHITE CENTER TABLE "AUX CARIATIDES", Empire style, after the imperial furniture by FHG JACOB-DESMALTER (Francois Honore Georges Jacob-Desmalter, 1770-1841), probably Russia. Malachite with matte and polished is bronze. Empire style, after the imperial furniture by FHG JACOB-DESMALTER (François Honoré Georges Jacob-Desmalter, 1770-1841), probably Russia. Malachite as well as matt and shiny gold-plated bronze. Plate set in a profiled bronze ring on a straight frame with 4 distinctive caryatoid supports on a profiled round base with central vase. Malachite belongs to the group of copper carbonates; it is found in the uppermost layers of copper ore deposits and forms thick, opaque nodules made up of small monoclinic crystals. The interesting grain and the numerous shades of green made the malachite very popular early on. During antiquity, it was mainly used as a gemstone by Egyptians, Greeks and Romans because of its bright green color; the noble Egyptians also used ground malachite to color their eyelids. Malachite was also used as a remedy for many diseases; In the Middle Ages it was administered in powdered form as an emetic and against heart problems, torn limbs and colic. The main deposits of malachite used to be mainly in the copper mines of the Urals, north and south of Katharinenburg. Finds of large malachite bulbs and plates made it possible to make larger art objects such as vases, bowls, desk sets, paperweights and candlesticks. Stones cut into thin panels were also used to clad tabletops, mantelpiece and pillars. The Tsar gave wonderful works of art made of malachite as a present to befriended royal families all over Europe.