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 look. Mother of pearl has been used for thousands of years in various cultures, and it continues to be a popular material in the world of art and design. In addition to its decorative qualities, mother of pearl is also valued for its durability and resistance to damage and decay.

16 items found:

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Lin family collection. A Chinese 20th century mother-of-pearl…

Chinese Mother-of-Pearl Snuff Bottle: 20th Century Lacquer Inlay

Lin family collection. A Chinese 20th century mother-of-pearl inlaid lacquer snuff bottle, height 6, diameter 2.5 cm

A Chinese mother of pearl snuff bottle and stopper, of…

Chinese Mother of Pearl Snuff Bottle with Tiger's Eye Stopper

A Chinese mother of pearl snuff bottle and stopper, of flattened pebble form, one side carved in relief with a figure, the other side with roundels, with a tiger's eye stopper, height 7.5 cm

Chinese mother of pearl snuff bottle and stopper, of pilgrim…

Chinese Mother of Pearl Snuff Bottle with Lady Motif

Chinese mother of pearl snuff bottle and stopper, of pilgrim form, decorated with raised motif of a lady and mandolin and flowers verso, height 6.5 cm. Provenance: collection of gentleman, Sydney

Three Chinese snuff bottles, carved mother of pearl, amber &…

Chinese Carved Snuff Bottle Set with Mixed Materials

Three Chinese snuff bottles, carved mother of pearl, amber & lacquer, one with carnelian stopper, height 7.5 - 5.5 cm

A mother-of-pearl snuff bottle, the snuff bottle with a reserve…

Mother-of-Pearl Snuff Bottle with Lion Dragon and Qilin

A mother-of-pearl snuff bottle, the snuff bottle with a reserve enclosing a lion dragon, a qilin to the reverse, surrounded by applied and engraved tiles of lappets and diamonds, height 7 cm

Chinese carved mother-of-pearl snuff bottle, carved in high…

Carved Mother-of-Pearl Snuff Bottle with Luo Han Decoration

Chinese carved mother-of-pearl snuff bottle, carved in high relief with Luo Han decoration, surmounted by a malachite stopper, height 7.5 cm

A Japanese ovoid Laque Burgaute snuff bottle, late 19th century,…

Japanese Laque Burgaute Snuff Bottle with Inlaid Design

A Japanese ovoid Laque Burgaute snuff bottle, late 19th century, with an inlaid design of a house and a pavilion by the side of a lake, the rounded sides with a very fine diaper pattern, the mother of pearl inlays in green, blue and gold on a black…

A Lac Burgaute snuff bottle of Flatten rounded shape, decorated…

Gilt and Mother of Pearl Lac Burgaute Snuff Bottle

A Lac Burgaute snuff bottle of Flatten rounded shape, decorated with gilt on a black ground with a central square inlaid with mother of pearl, bottom with gilt characters to base. Provenance: private South African collection. Height 6.5 cm

A Chinese carved mother-of-pearl 'Carp' snuff bottle, 5.8 cm…

Chinese Carved Mother-of-Pearl Carp Snuff Bottle

A Chinese carved mother-of-pearl 'Carp' snuff bottle, 5.8 cm high

A Chinese carved buffalo horn snuff bottle with mother-of-pearl,…

Chinese Buffalo Horn Snuff Bottle with Inlays

A Chinese carved buffalo horn snuff bottle with mother-of-pearl, ivory, and hardstone inlays in the shape of a water gourd, Mid 20th century 6.5 cm. Provenance: Purchased in China in the late 1980s and early 1990s

A Chinese carved nacre snuff bottle, and two Chinese carved…

Chinese Carved Nacre and Mother-of-Pearl Snuff Bottles

A Chinese carved nacre snuff bottle, and two Chinese carved mother-of-pearl snuff bottles, Late Qing to Republic period 7 cm, 9 cm, 9 cm (3). Provenance: Purchased in San Francisco and Lawsons' Auctioneer in Australia in the late 1980s and early 1990s…

A pair of Oriental lacquer and mother of pearl snuff bottles,…

Oriental Mother of Pearl Snuff Bottles

A pair of Oriental lacquer and mother of pearl snuff bottles, early 20th century, the quatrefoil cushion shaped bottles each with a floral inlaid design to one face and a boating scene with pagodas to the other, with mother of pearl patterns also to the…

A Laque Burgaute snuff bottle meticulously inlaid with foil and…

Burgaute Snuff Bottle with Foil and Mother of Pearl Inlay

A Laque Burgaute snuff bottle meticulously inlaid with foil and mother of pearl, 5.5 cm high

Carved mother of pearl snuff bottle with bird and leaf design

Bird & Leaf Mother of Pearl Snuff Bottle

Carved mother of pearl snuff bottle with bird and leaf design

A burl-wood and a mother-of-pearl snuff bottle, the burl-wood…

Burl-wood and Mother-of-Pearl Snuff Bottles

A burl-wood and a mother-of-pearl snuff bottle, the burl-wood bottle flanked with beast masks, the stopper carved with a Buddhist lion, the mother-of-pearl bottle carved with a water-pouring dragon on one side and pine trees on the other, 8 cm high, 6 cm…

20th century Chinese mother of pearl snuff bottle. Provenance:…

Chinese Mother of Pearl Snuff Bottle, 20th Century

20th century Chinese mother of pearl snuff bottle. Provenance: from a private collection. Height 6.3 cm