Mother of Pearl and Papua Shell Card Cases
Three Mother of pearl and papua shell card cases, 19th century, the first inset with a mother of pearl and papua shell diamond shaped plaque to each side. The other two cases alternating a papua shell and mother of pearl diamond pattern, 4.02 in., 4.13 in. and 4.13 in. high
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- Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.
In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.
Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries.
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