Egyptian Revival Tea Caddy with Marquetry Inlay
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.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
Antique 19th century French painted tole ware casket, 35 cm long, 19 cm high
An old Oriental rosewood lidded box, profuse mother-of-pearl inlays, the lid with phoenix, dragon and mythical animals, floral sprays, etc., fitted over the internal lacquered section, the plinth base with conforming frieze. Metal mounts. 24.5 cm x 24.5 cm
An important museum quality ships cabin trunk, Australian red cedar and whale bone with rope and leather handles, early 19th century, 56 cm high, 100.5 cm wide, 50 cm deep
A camphor wood carved chest. 37 cm high, 89 cm wide, 43 cm deep