Decor: Patrick Mavros Wildlife Artist and Master Sculptor

Patrick Mavros [Zimbabwe]

Wildlife artist and master sculptor, Patrick Mavros is passionate about the African bush, moments of which are beautifully captured in his evocative finely detailed sterling silver sculptures. Self-taught, Patrick started his eponymous business in 1978 when he created a pair of rose earrings for his then fiancé, now wife and this led to ever-increasing requests from friends and family for their own unique sculptures and helped hone his skills in the process. Now a fully-fledged family business involving his wife and four sons, Patrick works from a studio-cum-gallery located just outside Harare, Zimbabwe; and also retails his covetable, whimsical pieces from a flagship store in London. In addition to this two of his sons are based in Mauritius where some of the collection is designed.

[Image credits: Patrick Mavros]

Products range from the decorative to the functional; such as napkin rings, coffee spoons, desk accessories and jewellery for men and women. I was quite taken by these table lamps depicting the playful and notoriously pesky, Vervet monkeys (a common sight throughout the savannahs of Southern Africa) clambering up and down a stem that leads to a shade of what looks like overlaid guinea fowl feathers. The realistic sculptures allow you to create your own wildlife scenes like the ever-graceful giraffe content to graze amongst the acacia trees which double as candle holders seen below.

[Image credit: Patrick Mavros – Destination Luxury]

The intricate sculptures cast in sterling silver reveal the high attention to detail using an ancient technique of lost wax casting, acknowledged as a long and involved process. The silver is extracted from gold; the precious mineral which has been mined and panned in Zimbabwe for over 500 years. The silver is a by-product of the gold refining process; however in its pure, fine state is too soft to use in jewellery or sculpture, so the British Silver Alloy standard of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper is used giving way to the 925 mark commonly seen on sterling silver products. Each Patrick Mavros piece comes with: the PM hallmark, signifying the artist/maker and is registered at the Assay Office in the Goldsmiths’ Hall in London; the Sterling Silver Mark of Zimbabwe which is a Sable antelope head within a triangle; and the English Date Stamp.

… exquisitely captures the wildlife inhabitants of the African landscape

Additional details:
Prices currently on the website start from: £60 / USD$97; Lamps shown cost £30 000 / USD$48 684
For further information about Patrick Mavros visit: http://www.patrickmavros.com/