"TWO MINERS with GONDO ORE NUGGET" Miniature Sculpture in-the-round

"TWO MINERS with GONDO ORE NUGGET" Miniature Sculpture in-the-round

Swiss Alps, circa 1880-1890's,
sterling silver with natural ore nugget,
all original brooch fitments which double as a stand

One miner with pickaxe raised, the other rushes forward, arms outstretched, toward the nugget of ore towering between them... above in a forested floor of oak leaves and acorns

Gondo gold was known in ancient Rome; continuous production is documented from the 1600's. After a gold rush of 1893-4 gold content per ton of ore dropped drastically and major operations ceased in 1897 (Wikipedia)

The nugget : natural formation of pyrite, gold & silver, typical of Switzerland's Gondo mines in the Valais (Simplon) region, on the Italian border. Of Alpine origin, the gold mined there has ranged from 30 grams to only a few grams of gold per ton of ore.

The Silver : 925 sterling (confirmed by the Swiss "Carp Head" mark struck 1933 as silver purity standards were raised; The mark certifies that this item, already antique, has been tested and approved to meet the new standard.)

Quality, Assay & Maker marks : Craftsman mark "A" (struck 2x on pinstem),
sponsor (Jeweler) mark : "G.A.S." (struck on hinge); Swiss "CARP HEAD" with "N" for Neuchatel.

Size : Each miner stands 5/8" tall ; size of the complete miniature, with original Victorian "C" clasp and hinge

length 2" x height 1"
Gross Weight : .4675 troy oz.


# ctl 24001 .......................................................................... $ 475.