Details
With a waisted neck on a tapering square-sectioned body, the upper corners mounts with satyr masks joined by strings of stiff-leaves, on leaf-capped paw feet, atop a later plinth base
91⁄2 in. (24.1 cm.) high
Provenance
Acquired from Galerie Chamarande, Brussels.
Brought to you by

Lot Essay

Labradorite was first identified by Europeans in the 1770s when Moravian missionaries discovered it on Paul's Island, near Nain, Labrador, on the east coast of Canada. The stone, a variety of feldspar distinguished by its vibrant iridescence, was long-known and prized as a "fire stone" by the local Inuit population, according to whose legend it contained the frozen fire of the Aurora Borealis. By the end of the eighteenth century, it was equally prized in workshops across Europe, where a fascination with exotic and visually arresting hardstones had taken hold. Labradorite was an essential element in the work of the Roman mosaicist Giacomo Raffaelli, appeared in snuff-boxes produced in Vienna and became a popular stone for jewelry in England and France.

Related Articles

Sorry, we are unable to display this content. Please check your connection.

More from
Collections: Including a Southern Hôtel Particulier by Brian J. McCarthy
Place your bid Condition report

A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

I confirm that I have read this Important Notice regarding Condition Reports and agree to its terms. View Condition Report