A pair of carved and pierced mother-of-pearl shells, circa 1900,…
click the photo to enlarge
A pair of carved and pierced Mother-of-pearl shells, circa 1900, each carved with a woman and child reading in a garden setting with bamboo, flowering plants and trees on a pierced cloud scroll ground, wood stands, (4), 22.5 cm wide

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.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
  • 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

A pair of Australian 9ct gold sleeve-links, double-sided oval plates, silver chain connections, Fairfax & Roberts. Total weight 5.7g

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A gold sovereign, 1911

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A pair of Tahitian pearl earrings, each a 10.6 mm round fine cultured pearl to a silver zirconia cluster surmount.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Gold half sovereign 1915,

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.