Good 19th century papier mache work box on stand, of square form, decorated with flowers and birds in Mother of pearl, with upper hinged cover, above a pair of doors, the whole raised on four cabriole legs united by stretchers, 86 x19.29 in.
- 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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