One of a collection of Cape of Good Hope products from the Paris Exhibition, 1867 - a sample of malachite from the Pomona Mining Co

One of a group of copper ores and other specimens illustrating the extraction of the metal - a sample of chalcocite and malachite from surface workings at Fairplay Mine

One of a group of copper ores - a sample of malachite from the Ural Mountains

One of a group of copper ores - a sample of malachite from Burra, South Australia

One of a group of copper ores - a sample of chessylite and malachite from Burra, South Australia

Sample of malachite ore, used in copper smelting in Zimbabwe

Inro with four compartments, of ivory decorated with caparisoned elephant and Chinese children (karako) in mother-of-pearl, malachite and steatite, suspended from a kagamibuta netsuke of ivory set with glass and emamel, and held by a lacquer ojime encrusted with mother-of-pearl and steatite: Japan, by Shibayama Kazuyuki, late 19th century

Snuff bottle of malachite, carved in relief with the figure of a scholar or Daoist immortal on one side and deer, both against a background of pine branches and auspicious fungus (lingzhi), and with a carved malachite stopper fitted with ivory spoon: China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century

Snuff bottle of malachite, ovoid and flat, carved in relief with a deer on one side and a crane among pine branches on the other: China, 19th century AD

Stopper of malachite with an ivory spoon, for a snuff bottle: China, 19th century AD

Snuff bottle of malachite, ovoid and flat, carved in relief with deer and birds among pine and prunus branches: China, 19th century AD

Stopper with an ivory spoon, for a snuff bottle : China, 19th century AD

Snuff bottle of porcelain, flask form, painted on either side with dogs of Fo sporting with brocaded balls with flames, with four-character seal mark on base, and with a malachite stopper fitted with brass spoon: China, 19th century

Octagonal snuffbox of two colour gold inlaid with malachite and mother-of-pearl, with a hinged lid set with an oval enamel plaque painted with nymphs and a cupid: French, Paris, possibly Louis Cousin or Louis Gallois, 1771 - 1772.

Silver snuff box with gilt interior, mother-of-pearl panel from Guandong, China, in lid and inscription commemorating Captain William Wilkinson, a former East India Company sea officer, who commanded a frigate in the Chilean fleet of Admiral Lord Cochrane, by silversmith John Crichton, Scotland, 1859