Malachite is not a precious stone, and is not really a rare mineral because it can be manufactured (from copper carbonate hydroxide ). But natural occurring ones with such form can fetch a decent price in the collector’s market.
Yangchun Malachite on Carved Wooden Stand 阳春孔雀石
Malachite, wood | Modern (c. 1960) | Dimensions – L: 80cm, W: 40cm, H: 53cm (with stand) | Guangdong Museum Collection, Mined from Shilu Mine, Yangchun Town 孔雀石｜现代 (约公元1960年）｜长 80 厘米，宽 40 厘米，通高 53 厘米（连底座）｜广东省博物馆，阳春县石录铜矿出产
Geologically Yangchun was formed when a vast sea was pushed up to become a hill due to plate tectonics, resulting in a unique geographical structure and geological resources. It has over 2,000 years of mining and processing malachite. and treatment. In the mid-1960s, Yangchun Shilu Copper Mine began to produce a large number of malachite, which caused a stir among precious stones collectors both at home and abroad.
This naturally mined malachite is a combination of stalactite columnar, nodule, grape, cave and other forms. It has a mix of emerald green, dark green and pink green, with obvious silk lustre and wooden texture naturally occurring in different spots.
Beauty is in the eye to the beholder. Just like Taihu stones and other natural stones, the connoisseur looks for the natural form that mimics a scenery in miniature, like the pork belly stone in National Palace Museum. This piece of crystal has not be adulterated in any way, except for the exquisite wooden stand that was carved specially to place the crystal.
For those into the healing properties of crystal, malachite absorbs negative energies and pollutants, picking them up from the atmosphere and from the body. Guards against radiation and clears electromagnetic pollution. Malachite clears and activates the chakras and attunes to spiritual guidance. It opens the heart to unconditional love.
As malachite is copper ore, long-term exposure can cause severe adverse effects from copper poisoning. This means that inhaling or ingesting malachite dust can be dangerous, so raw malachite should be treated with care and stored properly.
“One Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” Scroll《千里江山图》卷
Handscroll, ink and colour on silk | Wang Ximeng (c. late 11th to early 12th), Song Dynasty (960–1279) | Dimensions – 51.5 x 1191.5 cm | The Palace Museum Collection 绢本，设色｜北宋，王希孟作（1096年—1119年）｜纵51.5厘米，横1191.5厘米｜故宫博物院藏
Artists have used malachite as a pigment for centuries. Like the famous painting, Wang Ximeng’s “One Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains”, is probably the finest example of Chinese blue-green landscape painting. This painting uses scarce mineral pigments with bright colours to depict the peaceful and prosperous country. And one of them is malachite.
About Chinese National Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese National Treasure series feature specific artefacts and relics from museums all around the world that are historically significant to be considered a National Treasure. The series covers the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation from Neolithic periods before the Xia dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to modern day.
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