Rare Russian Hardstone Balalaika Player Figurine
Rare Russian hardstone figure of Balalaika player, with rhodonite head and hands, sapphire eyes, labradorite body, lapis lazuli pants, white quartz sock and purpurin lapti shoes, seated on a banded agate bench, incised to base, a/f (replaced balalaika), height 4.53 in., together with Sotheby's Belgravia catalogue. Provenance: Sotheby's Belgravia, '19th century & 20th century English and foreign silver, plated wares, objects of Vertu and miniatures from 1837,' 12/10/1978, lot 49, thence by family descent similar: the Art of Carl Faberge by Kenneth Snowman, page 66
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- Lapis Lazuli - Lapis lazuli is a semi-precious deep blue coloured stone, sometimes with gold inclusions, that has been used for thousands of years for jewellery, decorative items and decoration.
It is mined in Afghanistan, Siberia, Chile, USA and Burma. The mines in north-eastern Afghanistan are the largest source of lapis lazuli, and have been operating for over 6,000 years.
They were the source of the stone for the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilsations. - Incised - A record of a name, date or inscription, or a decoration scratched into a surface, usually of a glass or ceramic item with a blunt instrument to make a coarse indentation. Compare with engraving where the surface is cut with a sharp instrument such as a metal needle or rotating tool to achieve a fine indentation.
- A/f, as Inspected - The letters "A/F" or "as inspected" as part of a description is the cataloguer's shorthand for "all faults" or "as found", meaning the item has some type of damage or deficiency, it is of uncertain date or provenance, and/or that the seller takes no responsibility for the completeness of the item or the accuracy of the description.
- Agate - Agate is a type of semi-precious gemstone that is made up of silica dioxide, a mineral that is also found in quartz. It is known for its distinctive banded patterns, which are created as layers of silica are deposited in different colours including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. It is often used in jewellery, decorative objects, and other decorative items, and it is prized for its beauty and durability. Agate is found in many parts of the world, including Brazil, India, and the United States.
- 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.
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