Mother of pearl is a natural substance that is formed as an inner shell layer of certain molluscs, such as oysters, abalone, and mussels. The substance is made up of a combination of calcium carbonate and a protein called conchiolin, and it has a lustrous, iridescent appearance that makes it highly prized for decorative and ornamental purposes.

Mother of pearl is often used in jewellery and decorative objects, such as buttons, inlay work, and furniture accents. It can be cut and polished into various shapes and sizes, and the iridescent quality of the material gives it a unique and beautiful more...

In the early 19th century etiquette dictated that upper class ladies and gentlemen should carry a visiting card, also known as a calling card, being a small paper card, about the size of present day business cards, printed with the individual's details, and often bearing an artistic design.

In 19th century England, the caller or the footmen accompanying the caller (if he or she was very important) would deliver the visiting cards to the servants of their prospective hosts, introducing the arrival of the card bearer.

Card cases solely for the purpose of holding visiting cards were introduced at more...

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George III mother of pearl handled sterling silver bladed fruit…

George III mother of pearl handled sterling silver bladed fruit knife in original red Morocco case, London 1797, together with a small sterling silver card case with engraved initials

Antique mother of pearl card case, hinged lid with velvet…

Antique mother of pearl card case, hinged lid with velvet interior with bright pearl inlays, width 8.2 cm, length 10.5 cm

An Victorian mother-of-pearl card-case, English circa 1880,…

An Victorian mother-of-pearl card-case, English circa 1880, width 10 cm, depth 8 cm,

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case, finely engraved to…

Exquisite Victorian Mother of Pearl Engraved Calling Card Case

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case, finely engraved to each side with birds and flowers

19th century tortoiseshell & mother of pearl card case,…

Tortoiseshell & Mother of Pearl Card Case with Idyllic Scene

19th century tortoiseshell & mother of pearl card case, tortoiseshell inlaid with mother of pearl flowers and leaves, central mother of pearl panel with incised idyllic lake scene

19th century tortoiseshell & mother of pearl card case, inset…

Antique Tortoiseshell & Mother of Pearl Card Case

19th century tortoiseshell & mother of pearl card case, inset silver lozenge and clasp, silk moire lined interior, 9.5 cm long

Victorian mother of pearl card case mother of pearl losses

Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case with Losses

Victorian mother of pearl card case mother of pearl losses

Victorian Mother of Pearl card case 10 cm X 7.5 cm

Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case

Victorian Mother of Pearl card case 10 cm X 7.5 cm

Mother of pearl card case, sandlewood interior, 11 cm high, 7…

Mother of Pearl Card Case with Sandalwood Interior

Mother of pearl card case, sandlewood interior, 11 cm high, 7 cm wide, 3.5 cm deep

An antique tortoiseshell card case, the case has mother of…

Antique Tortoiseshell Card Case with Mother of Pearl Inlay

An antique tortoiseshell card case, the case has mother of pearl inlay, length 10.5 cm, width 8 cm

An antique tortoise shell card case and a Georgian…

Tortoiseshell Card Case and Georgian Box with Inlay

An antique tortoise shell card case and a Georgian tortoiseshell box with mother of pearl inlay, length 10.5 cm, width 8 cm, and smaller

Late 19th century mother of pearl card case, of rectangular…

Late 19th Century Mother of Pearl Card Case

Late 19th century mother of pearl card case, of rectangular form with hinged cover, the mother of pearl inlay in diamond pattern, 10 cm x 8 cm

Superb ladies 19th century card case, in silver, mother of…

Elegant 19th Century Silver Card Case with Mother of Pearl

Superb ladies 19th century card case, in silver, mother of pearl and tortoise shell. The interior fited with card segments and ivory lining

Edwardian tortoiseshell shell card case, decorated with mother…

Inlaid Silver Tortoiseshell Card Case with Mother of Pearl

Edwardian tortoiseshell shell card case, decorated with mother of pearl and inlaid silver, with sectional interior

Victorian mother of pearl & paua shell calling card case…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Calling Card Case

Victorian mother of pearl & paua shell calling card case traditional lozenge shaped panels

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case traditional floral…

Floral Mother of Pearl Card Case

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case traditional floral decorated lozenge shaped panels

Two Victorian mother-of-pearl card cases, rectangular form,…

Pair of Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Card Cases

Two Victorian mother-of-pearl card cases, rectangular form, each with concertina cobalt blue interior, tone with and abalone panels to front and back. Each 10.5 x 7.5 cm.

A mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell card case, 19th century,…

Mother-of-Pearl and Tortoiseshell Card Case

A mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell card case, 19th century, the card case with finely engraved mother- of-pearl borders, an inlaid engraved silver owl and crescent moon to the lid and opening to reveal a blue moire silk lined interior with an ultramarine…

19th century tortoise shell and mother of pearl card case, of…

Floral Decorated Card Case with Tortoise Shell and Mother-of-Pearl

19th century tortoise shell and mother of pearl card case, of rectangular form, decorated with a central spray of flowers to each side, a/f, height 10 cm

Victorian decorated tortoiseshell card case decorated in inset…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Blossom Card Case

Victorian decorated tortoiseshell card case decorated in inset mother of pearl blossoms to front and back,

Three 19th century calling card cases, comprising two…

19th Century Calling Card Cases with Inlaid Designs

Three 19th century calling card cases, comprising two tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl inlaid cases and an Anglo Indian sadeli mosaic inlaid card case, 11 cm high, 8 cm wide

A Victorian mother-of-pearl and abalone shell visiting card…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl & Abalone Visiting Card Case

A Victorian mother-of-pearl and abalone shell visiting card case, later 19th century, the case with diamond shaped mother-of-pearl tiles and abalone shell details, a large diamond motif to the face engraved with a basket of flowers enclosed by abalone…

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case, fitted blue silk…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Calling Card Case with Humorous Cards

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case, fitted blue silk interior containing numerous humorous cards

An antique calling card case, tortoiseshell and mother of pearl…

Antique Tortoiseshell Calling Card Case with Mother of Pearl Trim

An antique calling card case, tortoiseshell and mother of pearl with ivory trim and silk lining, 19th century, 10 cm high

Mother of pearl and sterling silver Amorial Inserted card case…

Mother of Pearl and Sterling Silver Card Case

Mother of pearl and sterling silver Amorial Inserted card case with reticulated interior, 11 cm x 8 cm

Antique mother of pearl and silver ladies card case

Silver Mother of Pearl Ladies Card Case

Antique mother of pearl and silver ladies card case

A Victorian mother of pearl and paua shell overlaid card case…

Victorian Shell Card Case with Note Pad

A Victorian mother of pearl and paua shell overlaid card case case and fitted note pad

Victorian mother of pearl and silver card case, dimensions 11…

Victorian Mother of Pearl and Silver Card Case with Losses

Victorian mother of pearl and silver card case, dimensions 11 cm x 8 cm, loss to panels

A Victorian tortoise shell, mother of pearl & paua shell…

Victorian Shell Calling Card Case with Push Clasp

A Victorian tortoise shell, mother of pearl & paua shell calling card case, curved & diamond panels with push clasp, one piece of mother of pearl missing, 10 x 8 x 1 cm

Two Victorian mother of pearl & paua shell calling card cases,…

Victorian Mother of Pearl & Paua Shell Card Cases

Two Victorian mother of pearl & paua shell calling card cases, diamond shape panels of mother of pearl with paua shell detail, chips to some panels, one piece & push button on the smaller case missing, 10 x 7.5 x 1 cm & 14 x 7 x 2.5 cm

Two Victorian mother of pearl calling card cases, one with…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Calling Card Cases with Carved Panels

Two Victorian mother of pearl calling card cases, one with carved diamond shaped panel, both with two pieces missing, push button clasps, 10 x 7.5 x 1 cm

A Victorian mother of pearl & sterling silver carved calling…

Victorian Mother of Pearl & Sterling Silver Card Case

A Victorian mother of pearl & sterling silver carved calling card case, diamond shaped carved panels of mother of pearl with a filigree sterling silver panel, 10.5 x 8 x 1 cm

A Victorian mother of pearl & paua shell carved calling card…

Victorian Mother of Pearl & Paua Shell Card Case

A Victorian mother of pearl & paua shell carved calling card case, diamond shaped engraved pieces of mother of pearl with a carved floral centre panel, paua shell detail, push button clasp, 10 x 8 x 1 cm

A Victorian tortoise shell & inlay mother of pearl card case,…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case with Floral Inlay

A Victorian tortoise shell & inlay mother of pearl card case, with floral pattern & ivory detail, break & missing part to clasp, 9 x 7 x 1.5 cm

Two Victorian card cases one in mother of pearl, the other…

Victorian Card Cases with Losses

Two Victorian card cases one in mother of pearl, the other tortoiseshell and mother of pearl. Both with losses

Two Victorian card cases, tortoiseshell, mother of pearl and…

Victorian Card Cases with Tortoiseshell and Mother of Pearl Inlay

Two Victorian card cases, tortoiseshell, mother of pearl and silver, circa 1880, 10.5 cm high

A mother of pearl inlaid tortoiseshell card case 19th century…

Mother of Pearl Inlaid Tortoiseshell Card Case, 19th Century

A mother of pearl inlaid tortoiseshell card case 19th century 10 cm high, 8 cm wide, 1.5 cm deep

Two Victorian mother of pearl calling card cases, plain…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Cases with Abalone

Two Victorian mother of pearl calling card cases, plain rectangular diamond pattern, one with abalone

A Victorian mother-of-pearl card case, traditional diamond…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Card Case with Abalone Inlay

A Victorian mother-of-pearl card case, traditional diamond sections with star form abalone inlay to the front, blue fitted sectional interior, in original box.

Two antique embossed mother of pearl & Abalone card cases 10.5…

Antique Mother of Pearl & Abalone Card Cases

Two antique embossed mother of pearl & Abalone card cases 10.5 cm X 8 cm

An antique card case, tortoiseshell and ivory with mother of…

19th Century English Tortoiseshell Card Case with Inlay

An antique card case, tortoiseshell and ivory with mother of pearl inlay, English, 19th century, 9.5 cm high

Seven Victorian tortoiseshell card cases, late 19th century,…

Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Cases with Mother of Pearl Inlay

Seven Victorian tortoiseshell card cases, late 19th century, most inlaid with mother of pearl, 10 cm x 8 cm approximately.

Inlaid mother of pearl card case with carved panel

Mother of Pearl Carved Panel Card Case

Inlaid mother of pearl card case with carved panel

Three mother of pearl card cases and one other box 19th century,…

Mother of Pearl Card Cases and Inlaid Box Set

Three mother of pearl card cases and one other box 19th century, the box intricately inset with papua shell and mother of pearl all in a floral design. The first card case intricately inset with papua shell and mother of pearl all in a floral design. The…

Three mother of pearl and papua shell card cases, 19th century,…

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, 10.2 cm, 10.5 cm…

Three mother of pearl and turquoise shell card cases, 19th…

19th Century Mother of Pearl and Turquoise Shell Card Cases

Three mother of pearl and turquoise shell card cases, 19th century, the first inset with a mother of pearl still life scene on each side, in the Chinoiserie style, all on a turquoise shell ground. Another bearing an engraved diamond shaped plaque to…

A Victorian mother-of-pearl and silver card case, with…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Card Case

A Victorian mother-of-pearl and silver card case, with concertina interior. Length 11 cm.

A Victorian mother-of-pearl card case, push-button release, the…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Card Case with Multiple Compartments

A Victorian mother-of-pearl card case, push-button release, the interior with multiple card compartments. 11 cm x 7.5 cm.

A Victorian mother-of-pearl silver and abalone card case,…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Silver and Abalone Card Case

A Victorian mother-of-pearl silver and abalone card case, rectangular form, concertina cobalt blue interior, the panelled exterior with engraved silver bands to the front panel.10.8 cm x 8 cm.

A Victorian Mother-of-Pearl and Abalone Visiting card case,…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl and Abalone Card Case

A Victorian Mother-of-Pearl and Abalone Visiting card case, 19th century, a rectangular hinge top case diagonally set with mother-of-pearl tiles bordered by a chevron arrangement of abalone tiles, with a press button opening mechanism revealing the ivory…

A Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Visiting card case, 19th century,…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Visiting Card Case

A Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Visiting card case, 19th century, the rectangular hinge top case diagonally set with mother-of-pearl tiles finely engraved with patterns and floral motifs, with a press button opening mechanism revealing the ivory tipped edges…

A 19th century decorative tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl…

Tortoiseshell and Mother-of-Pearl Card Case

A 19th century decorative tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl card case, ribbed panel and banded form, floral engraved panels. 10.4 cm x 7.8 cm. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

A Victorian mother-of-pearl and silver card case, diamond form…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl and Silver Card Case

A Victorian mother-of-pearl and silver card case, diamond form panels, concertina sectional interior. 10.8 cm x 7.8 cm. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

A 19th century tortoiseshell ornately inlaid card case, both…

Ornate Tortoiseshell Inlaid Card Case with Abalone Inlays

A 19th century tortoiseshell ornately inlaid card case, both sides with fine abalone and mother-of-pearl inlays. 10.7 cm x 8.2 cm. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

A Victorian mother-of-pearl abalone and silver card case, the…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Abalone and Silver Card Case

A Victorian mother-of-pearl abalone and silver card case, the scroll engraved silver panel framed by abalone bands and diamond panels, push-button release with plain silk lined interior. 10.8 cm x 7.8 cm. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

A black lacquer card case with a painted & mother of pearl Snow…

Snowy Scene Lacquer Card Case

A black lacquer card case with a painted & mother of pearl Snow scene 9 x 7.5 x 2 cm

A Victorian mother of pearl & paua shell card case, 10.5 x 7.5…

Victorian Mother of Pearl & Paua Shell Card Case

A Victorian mother of pearl & paua shell card case, 10.5 x 7.5 cm

19th century tortoise shell and mother of pearl inlaid floral…

Floral Inlaid Card Case with Tortoise Shell & Mother-of-Pearl

19th century tortoise shell and mother of pearl inlaid floral decorated card case

A Victorian mother of pearl calling card case

Victorian Mother of Pearl Calling Card Holder

A Victorian mother of pearl calling card case

A Victorian mother of pearl calling-card case

Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case

A Victorian mother of pearl calling-card case

A Victorian mother of pearl calling card case

Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case

A Victorian mother of pearl calling card case

A Victorian engraved mother-of-pearl card case, engraved floral…

Victorian Engraved Mother-of-Pearl Card Case with Floral Decoration

A Victorian engraved mother-of-pearl card case, engraved floral decoration.

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case traditional design,…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Calling Card Case with Inlaid Silver

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case traditional design, the front with inlaid silver lozenge shape panel

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case side opening with…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Calling Card Case - Original Interior

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case side opening with original interior

Victorian tortoiseshell & mother of pearl calling card case of…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case with Floral Inlay

Victorian tortoiseshell & mother of pearl calling card case of rectangular shape, having floral inlaid mother of pearl detail, with a velvet lined interior & a working button clasp. Condition: good to fair, loss to one panel, loose hinge, 9.5 x 5.7 x 1.2…

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case having diamond…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Calling Card Case with Floral Detail

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case having diamond shaped panels, a hinged lid & red velvet interior, inscribed with floral detail, with a push button clasp, condition: good, minor wear consistent with age, slight loss to one panel, 10.5 x 8 x 1 cm

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case having diamond…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Calling Card Case with Abalone Panels

Victorian mother of pearl calling card case having diamond shaped panels with four central abalone panels, a hinged lid & red velvet interior, with a push button clasp, condition: good to fair, slight ly loose hinge & clasp, 10.2 x 7.5 x 0.9 cm

Victorian mother of pearl & Abalone shell calling card case…

Victorian Mother of Pearl & Abalone Calling Card Case

Victorian mother of pearl & Abalone shell calling card case having alternating mother of pearl & abalone diamond shaped panels, a hinged lid & red velvet interior, inscribed with floral detail, with a push button clasp, condition: good, slight ly loose…

An antique mother-of-pearl card case, 19th century, the diamond…

19th Century Mother-of-Pearl Card Case with Silver Lozenge

An antique mother-of-pearl card case, 19th century, the diamond tiled case with a central silver lozenge with a vacant cartouche and engraved floral design, with a solid clasp and hinge and original blue lining, length 10.5 cm, width 7.5 cm

Mother-of-pearl and Abalone card case, of rectangular shape,…

Rectangular Mother-of-Pearl Card Case

Mother-of-pearl and Abalone card case, of rectangular shape, height 1.2 cm width 7.8 cm

A Victorian mother-of-pearl calling card case, 19th century,…

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Calling Card Case

A Victorian mother-of-pearl calling card case, 19th century, the hinged case with a diagonally set mother-of-pearl tile design. Length 10.5 cm. Width 8 cm

Mother of pearl visiting card case

Mother of Pearl Card Case

Mother of pearl visiting card case

Victorian mother of pearl & Abalone calling card case oblong…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Calling Card Case with Silver Cartouche

Victorian mother of pearl & Abalone calling card case oblong with sterling silver cartouche side hinged opening revealing concertinaed compartments

Victorian tortoise shell calling card case oblong with mother…

Victorian Tortoise Shell Card Case with Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl

Victorian tortoise shell calling card case oblong with mother of pearl floral inlay, top hinged opening

Tortoiseshell & mother of pearl calling card case having…

Tortoiseshell and Mother of Pearl Calling Card Case

Tortoiseshell & mother of pearl calling card case having rounded edges, a velvet lined interior, with an inlaid unmarked silver cartouche, & a working button clasp. Condition, good to fair, minor losses to the shell. Dimensions, 10 x 7.6 x 1.2 cm

Antique mother of pearl & silver card case, as inspected

Antique Mother of Pearl Silver Card Case

Antique mother of pearl & silver card case, as inspected

Antique mother of pearl card case as inspected, 10.5 cm high…

Antique Mother of Pearl Card Case - 10.5 cm High

Antique mother of pearl card case as inspected, 10.5 cm high approx

Two antique card cases with mother of pearl & paua shell casing,…

Antique Mother of Pearl and Paua Shell Card Cases

Two antique card cases with mother of pearl & paua shell casing, as inspected

Antique mother of pearl & paua shell card case 10.3 cm high

Mother of Pearl & Paua Shell Card Case

Antique mother of pearl & paua shell card case 10.3 cm high

Mother of pearl card case as inspected (one missing piece…

Mother of Pearl Card Case with Missing Piece

Mother of pearl card case as inspected (one missing piece inside)

Two silver mounted tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl card…

Silver and Shell Card Cases with Enamel Cover

Two silver mounted tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl card cases, 19th/20th century, together with a silver and enamel cover the largest box 8 cm wide

i) A sterling silver cigar box Birmingham 1922. Cedar lined.…

Sterling Silver Cigar Box, Silver Box, Card Case Set

i) A sterling silver cigar box Birmingham 1922. Cedar lined. Total weight: 678grams. Length 19.2 cm. Ii) A sterling silver box with tray 950 silver. Ebonised wood lining. Total weight: 306grams. Length 17.5 cm. Iii) A Victorian mother-of-pearl and silver…

Antique French enamel opera glasses; sterling silver mounted…

Antique French Enamel Opera Glasses and Accessories

Antique French enamel opera glasses; sterling silver mounted purse; two 19th century mother of pearl card cases. (4 items)

Mother of pearl card case for restoration, approx 10 cm x 8 cm

Restoration Project: Mother of Pearl Card Case

Mother of pearl card case for restoration, approx 10 cm x 8 cm

Victorian mother of pearl, paua shell and silver card case

Victorian Shell and Silver Card Case

Victorian mother of pearl, paua shell and silver card case

Two Victorian tortoiseshell card cases 19th century each with…

Victorian Tortoiseshell Card Cases with Silver Inlay

Two Victorian tortoiseshell card cases 19th century each with silver inlay and one with mother of pearl, 11 cm high( each)

A Victorian mother of pearl and tortoiseshell card case, circa…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Card Case

A Victorian mother of pearl and tortoiseshell card case, circa 1860s. The rectangular shaped bone case with a button release hinged top decorated with alternating panels of tortoiseshell and mother of pearl lightly engraved with patterns and scrolling…

Lord Harris' visiting card case: mother-of-pearl and…

Lord Harris' Cricket-Themed Visiting Card Case

Lord Harris' visiting card case: mother-of-pearl and hand-painted visiting card case (78 x 102 x 9 mm), decorated with cricket scene on one side, and portrait of Lord Harris on the other side, with initials 'Hon Grch' (Harris' initials). Beautiful cricket…

Victorian tortoiseshell card case with mother of pearl and…

Victorian Inlaid Tortoiseshell Card Case

Victorian tortoiseshell card case with mother of pearl and abalone inlay

A Victorian lady's shell inlaid card case, late 19th century,…

Victorian Shell Inlaid Card Case

A Victorian lady's shell inlaid card case, late 19th century, of hinged form and with a diamond pattern inlay of mother-of-pearl and abalone shell, with a petite button release catch to the side and lined with original red fabric. Length 9 cm. Width 5.5…

Victorian mother of pearl card case, clock measuring tape,…

Victorian Desk Accessories Set

Victorian mother of pearl card case, clock measuring tape, ruler set, a pin cushion cup, handled cup (5)

Good Victorian mother of pearl & silver card case

Victorian Mother of Pearl Silver Card Case

Good Victorian mother of pearl & silver card case

Antique mother of pearl card case and interesting contents, as…

Antique Mother of Pearl Card Case with Contents

Antique mother of pearl card case and interesting contents, as inspected, 10.8 cm x 7.8 cm

An Edwardian mother-of-pearl and abalone card case, the lid…

Mother-of-Pearl Card Case with Silk Concertina Section

An Edwardian mother-of-pearl and abalone card case, the lid opens to reveal a silk concertina section for individual cards.

An Edwardian mother-of-pearl and abalone (paua) card case,…

Mother-of-Pearl and Abalone Card Case

An Edwardian mother-of-pearl and abalone (paua) card case, rectangular form, the exterior with alternating diamonds of mother-of-pearl and abalone.

An Austrian silver and enamel card case Vienna /, circa 1920,…

Austrian Silver Enamel Card Case with Guilloche Design

An Austrian silver and enamel card case Vienna /, circa 1920, engine turned with pale blue guilloche engraved internally to Ann / from mother / 28.1.34 stamped with Diana. 900 mark and makers mark R.S 112grs. Total weight, 7.5 cm long