Stones with distinctive colours or patterns have been used as amulets since the dawn of time. Their colour or pattern often determined their use. In the south German region, patterned stones were often worn against witchcraft, which is how this amulet was described when it was acquired. Although malachite mainly came from Russia and the Congo before the 20th century, there were small outcrops in the south German alpine region. In the 18th century the inhabitants made amulets on an industrial scale for distribution throughout southern Germany.