Mother of pearl is a shiny substance that blinds you when you open an oyster shell. Released by some mollusks to coat the inside of their shells, it is characterized by the play of iridescent colors on its surface. There is no such material in nature, except for pearls coated with mother-of-pearl, the same substance that gives mother-of-pearl its soft iridescent overflow.
Relatively strong and durable, mother-of-pearl has been used for thousands of years in everything from jewelry design to architecture.
Mother-of-pearl buttons were popular in the 13th and 14th centuries and the tradition continues to this day. We find mother-of-pearl in many objects - from knife handles to dials, from furniture to jewelry boxes.
Like pearls, mother-of-pearl comes in a variety of colors, from white to black, with dazzling blue-greens, beautiful pinks, and glittering gold in-betweens. But the names of the colors do not come close to describing the appearance of mother-of-pearl and its many shades, which are accompanied by a soft, pearly glow.
Removing mother-of-pearl from a shell is a complex process, as it is prone to chipping and cracking. And the manufacture of such elegant objects, such as these fans, requires special skill.
Have you thought about the source of the iridescent look of mother-of-pearl? The answer lies in the mother-of-pearl material itself - epithelial cells secrete thin plates or building blocks of mother-of-pearl.
The thin plates of calcium carbonate secreted by the mollusk have a width equal to the width of many light waves. This is what gives mother-of-pearl its unique beauty, in demand in the creation of everything from pearl jewelry and watches to furniture.
Mother-of-pearl is the iridescent inner surface of a clam shell. It is most common in three types of mollusks - pearl oysters, freshwater mussels and abalone. To protect the inside of its shell from parasites and foreign irritants, the mollusk coats it with mother-of-pearl, an organic substance that gives mother-of-pearl its iridescent effect and special beauty. This multi-colored iridescence is caused by the way light reflects off the layers of mother-of-pearl on the shell.
Gallery of jewelry with mother-of-pearl:
