A silver-mounted bezoar stone
Lot 38

A silver-mounted bezoar stone

POSSIBLY EARLY 19TH CENTURY, THE SILVER ORIENTAL

Closed23 September 2009

Price Realised

EUR 8,750

More Information

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A silver-mounted bezoar stone
Possibly early 19th Century, the silver oriental
The stone mounted on a circular domed foot applied with flower-heads and animal-heads, rising towards a short stem supporting a flower-head surmounted by the stone, mounted with a ball-shaped reticulated later finial, repairs, marked on base
13.7 cm. high
gross 172 gr.

Specialist note

The bezoar stone is found as a concretion in the stomachs or intestines of various ruminants, such as antelopes, camels, deer and goats. It used to be thought that the more rare the animal, the greater the power of the bezoar. The name comes from the Persion padzahr, meaning "to expel poison". From the Middle Ages on, the bezoar stone was believed to protect you from diseases and poisioning.