The workshop and show room of Patrick Mavros in Mauritius is a haven of peace and elegance in the chaos and noise of the outskirts of the capital, Port Louis.

The wrought iron door decorated with monkeys, dodos, turtles and other sea creatures, takes you into another world. The monkey welcome theme continues with the wonderful door handles to the showroom.

Silver Sculptor Patrick Mavros established a workshop in Mauritius 6 years ago but despite his international reach his heart remains in Zimbabwe where his workshops, the family homestead, the wildlife sanctuary, the offices and reception and his sales studio, are built to form a small village on his estate in the wild hills outside Harare in Zimbabwe.

He started carving in ivory to make a gift for his new wife and now with his 4 sons the family runs workshops in Harare, London, Mauritius and recently the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

 His silver sculptures reflect African wild-life in all its diversity, from hippo and elephant sculptures to crocodile belt buckles and monkey swizzle sticks for your cocktails. His Mauritian collection created for his opening here reflects the sea theme with seahorses and starfish complimented with shells, pearls and topaz.

Every silver sculpture is made using lost wax casting using ivory as the original sculpture Molten silver is poured into the plaster mould and once the silver has cooled the plaster mould is broken open to reveal the silver casting. The casting is then cleaned and checked to see that every detail of the original has been faithfully reproduced. Finally, the piece is hallmarked and polished in one of his workshops.

Silver is a by-product of gold refining in Zimbabwe. In the 60 tonnes of gold produced each year the ore contains traces of copper, silver and lead and it is during the gold refining stage that the silver is extracted.

There is an artistic theme running through his family. His sister-in-law Fée Halsted created the south African ceramics company Ardmore. Examples of their work can also be found at the Mauritian show room including the most spectacular chandelier in the form of a giant banana flower decorated with monkeys birds and other African insects.

Don’t worry if you can’t get to Mauritius or Africa, call in to the spectacular London Flagship Store on the Fulham road for your Christmas shopping.