Sardonyx dish and stand

Sardonyx is a variety of chalcedony (silicon dioxide) with alternating brown to red and white to yellow bands.

This attractive dish with stand was probably carved in the famous lapidary centre of Idar Oberstein in Germany. It was purchased from H Stern together with several other carved ornamentals in 1878. The patterns and colours in this dish are outstanding. Its perfect form, detail and high polish are typical of the high standards in lapidary art at the time. The dish has been carved to minimum thickness to show the wonderful translucency and patterns of the sardonyx.