Chinese Mother of pearl inlaid display cabinet, with 2 glazed doors opening to stepped shelves and mirrored back, above a 3 door storage cabinet with drawer, divides into 3 parts for removal, 40.16 in. wide, 14.17 in. deep, 76.77 in. high
- 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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Chinese furniture, type or function