421 - Pair of malachite obelisks with gilt bronze mounts – Russian School – 20th century

Pair of malachite obelisks with gilt bronze mounts – Russian School – 20th century A pair of obelisks in the Neoclassical and Imperial style, crafted from green malachite with intense natural veining and embellished with gilt bronze ornamental appliqués. The use of malachite as a luxury stone was particularly prominent in Russia, especially in palace and imperial decoration, where it was employed in furniture, decorative objects, and architectural elements. The ornamental repertoire, classical and historicist in character, includes relief motifs that evoke the Russian imperial decorative tradition. Their paired design reflects the typical symmetrical arrangement of such objects in stately interiors, atop consoles, mantelpieces, or monumental furniture. The piece belongs to the Russian and European tradition of luxury decorative arts, characterized by the combination of ornamental stones with gilt bronze. Dimensions: 60 × 11 × 11 cm each.