Hardstone Inlaid Portable Chest with Bird and Deer Motifs
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A hardstone inlaid hardwood portable chest, Guanpixiang, of rectangular form, the hinged domed cover with ruyi head metal fittings lifting to reveal a shallow compartment, above a pair of panelled doors flush within mitred frames opening to reveal two pairs of short drawers above a long drawer, the sides set with bail handles and one side with a chain joining the cover and side, the cover inlaid in hardstones of varying colours including lapis-lazuli, malachite, and Mother-of-pearl with a bird perched on a blossoming peony tree beside bamboo and lingzhi fungus, and with two seals, the front inlaid with fruiting peach and finger citron, the doors with deer beside pine, bamboo and lingzhi fungus, 31 cm high, 32 cm wide, 23.5 cm deep
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- Hardstone - Hardstone is not a scientific name for a particular gemstone, but a word used to describe any one or more semi-precious stones used in jewellery and decorative arts, and can include jade, agate, onyx, rock crystal, amber, jet and carnelian. Softer stones and minerals such as soapstone, and alabaster and hard stones used in building such as marble or granite are generally excluded.
- Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.
In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.
Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries. - Malachite - Malachite is bright copper-green coloured stone with concentric layers which displays distinct contrasting veinings. It has been valued in the past for making or decorating small precious objects such as clocks, jewellery, dishes and so. In the Orient it was used for snuff bottles and in Russia and was favoured by the Faberge workshop. larger pieces were used for table tops.
The principal source of supply was Russia but it is to be found in other regions such as Southern Africa, Mexico, Australia and France.
Malachite glass is a manufactured material that was intended to resemble malachite, but often bears more resemblance to a veined coloured marble due to its lower gloss finish and lack of concentric layers. Malachite glass was manufactured by many glassworks in the 19th century including Loetz in Austria and others in Bohemia and Davidson's Greener's and Sowerby in north eastern England.
It was particularly used for scent bottles, bowls, and small vases often decorated with nymphs.
Malachite glass has been manufactured continuously since the late nineteenth century, most is unmarked and it is difficult to distinguish the age or manufacturer of most commercial pieces.
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