We can not help ourselves.
Malachite has been mined and used in ornamentation consistently for the past 3000 years. Our prehistoric ancestors used the the mineral in decoration and its use in decoration has evolved with us.
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Cave of Altamira- Spain
Malachite Hall at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Malachite Hall in the Rococo style was installed 1837 following a fire that had destroyed its predecessor, the Jasper Room. This is the real deal. Huge slabs of Russian malachite, cut in to columns polished and fitted with gilt bases and capitals. A malachite fireplace with ormolu fittings, malachite tables, urns gold, gold and more gold! If this is not enough take a look at The Summer Palace.
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A world away in Mexico City Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico embarked, in 1864, on a massive renovation to the Castle de Chapultepec. Including the installation of these doors made from Russian mined malachite with ormolu mounts. Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico was Austrian by birth and the second son to the Austrian throne. He is also the only monarch to rule on North American soil. The lives and reigns of these two palaces' residents both ended in revolutions.
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| The Castle de Chapultepec via flickr |
The New York antiques dealer
A La Vieille Russie sold in 2008 this suite of malachite walls. Once re installed the panels envelope an entire room. No doubt being enjoyed at the moment by a Russian oligarch.
Rather than incite revolution...Perhaps faux is the way to go.
Tony Duquette wallpapered, upholstered, accessorized and covered the floors in faux malachite at his home Dawnridge in Beverly Hills, 1949.
Hutton Wilkinson created a Venetian palazzo in the sky for this NYC apartment, covering almost every available surface in Jim Thompson malachite fabric in 2014. Hutton Wilkinson was a protege of Tony Duquette.
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| Hutton Wilkinson Veranda December 2014 |
A modern take on Art Deco. Malachite wallpaper surrounds an ebonized fireplace with brass fitting. Contrasted with slip glazed thrown ginger jars and primitive pottery. A collection of contrasts high and low materials, rough and polished, shiny and matte, color and the absence of color.
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MK Blog
Designer Kelly Wearstler's Home office uses real malachite boxes and injects the color repeatedly in upholstery, ceramics, flooring, glass and the outdoors. High and low materials, traditional and modern old and new coming together in perfection not pretension.
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