This set of four miniature musical instruments is a wonderful example of 19th Century Continental decorative art. Each piece is a true objet d’art, crafted from exceptional semi-precious stones appended with silver—and silver-gilt—mounts. The semi-precious stones include sparkling green malachite, rich blue lapis lazuli, rich red jasper, and brown veined tiger’s eye—the four stones forming a complementary spectrum of colours and lustres. The silver mounts—which are often wholly gilt and occasionally parcel gilt—are beautifully and intricately cast, featuring wonderful scrolling raised tracery and a variety of delicate floral and foliate motifs.