Local Artisan | One-off Design | Copper and Brass Cuff Bangle | Malachite Cabochons | Contemporary

A piece made by hand, for a wrist that knows its own mind.

Handcrafted jewellery of this construction — solid copper and brass worked into a multi-strand architectural form — sits outside the factory tradition entirely. This cuff was made by a single craftsman working in South Africa, and no second example exists. The combination of copper and brass in hand-worked jewellery has a long lineage across African and Middle Eastern metalworking traditions, here interpreted with considerable structural ambition. The three malachite cabochons place the piece within a colour vocabulary that has appealed to collectors of statement jewellery for generations — malachite's banded green has been prized since antiquity.

The cuff is wide and substantial, built from alternating strands of copper and twisted brass wire gathered between rectangular brass collars at regular intervals. The outer face carries a central oval malachite cabochon in a plain brass bezel setting, flanked symmetrically by two smaller round malachite cabochons at the lower terminals. A smooth copper band runs centrally through the composition, flanked by twisted brass rope strands on either side, with further plain brass outer rails. The terminals are formed as flat rectangular brass tabs, open at the gap. The interior is open-weave, showing the strands cleanly. At 133 grams, the piece has genuine heft and presence on the wrist. The malachite is natural and authentic, showing characteristic banding in deep forest and mid-greens. Unsigned.

The cuff is in very good condition. The brass shows honest age-consistent patina and minor surface wear consistent with handling; no loss of form. The copper strands retain their colour with light oxidation in recessed areas. All three malachite cabochons are intact with no chips or cracks. The bezel settings are secure throughout.

Key Details

• Maker: Local South African artisan, unsigned
• Design: One-off, no second example
• Form: Wide open cuff bangle
• Material: Solid copper and brass with natural malachite cabochons
• Cabochons: One oval and two round natural malachite, bezel-set — one central, two terminal
• Construction: Multi-strand twisted brass rope and plain copper, gathered between rectangular brass collars
• Weight: 133g
• Length: 9.7cm
• Width: 8cm
• Height: 2.8cm
• Condition: Very good
• Buyer profile: Collector of statement or artisan jewellery; wearer who favours bold, handmade pieces with material integrity

Copper and malachite. One craftsman. One piece.