Chinese Mother of Pearl Card Case with Silk Lining
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- 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.
Visually similar items
A Victorian mother of pearl calling card case
Early Chinese carved ivory photo frame. Two reticulated screens opening to blossom surround frame. 16 x 13 cm . Wt.133g
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
Mother-of-pearl and Abalone card case, of rectangular shape, height 1.2 cm width 7.8 cm