Silver-gilt and malachite miniature mandolin

Formed from malachite, silver, and silver-gilt, this beautiful objet d’art represents a miniature mandolin, raised on a separate stand.

The front face of the mandolin is inset with veined malachite, the malachite mounted with delicate silver-gilt elements: the tail piece, bridge, and border of the sound hole are all formed from ornate, scrolling silver-gilt. The neck of the mandolin—comprising its fingerboard, frets, and head—is likewise cast from silver and delicately gilt. The gilding throughout is parcelled occasionally: the surface of the head, for instance, includes moments of ungilt silver. The reverse of the bowled body of the mandolin is ornately adorned: raised ribs and motifs, set above a stippled silver surface, are parcel gilt, accenting their scrolling, arabesque forms.

The mandolin is supported by a stand, formed of a square malachite base, the corners canted, on top of which sits a silver-gilt loop support, into which the belly of the mandolin rests.

The neck of the mandolin is stamped with ‘800’, signifying 80% silver, and an indistinct maker’s mark.