Mother of Pearl is a mostly calcium carbonate, that forms the inner layer of the shells of certain molluscs, such as the oyster and abalone shells.
The iridescent mother-of-pearl that comes from shell linings also covers the outsides of pearls.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at mother of pearl and cover key points including where it comes from, its different uses, and the
ways in which it differs from actual pearls.
It is most found in three types of molluscs—pearl oysters, freshwater mussels, and abalone. To protect the inside of their shells from parasites
and foreign irritants, the molluscs coat it with nacre—an organic substance that gives mother-of-pearl its iridescent effect and distinct
beauty. This multicoloured iridescence is caused by the way light reflects on the layers of nacre on the shell.
Though mother of pearl is primarily used for jewellery, people have also used them for many other purposes. Home designers have often used
mother of pearl for home décor, commonly in the form of mosaic tile designs. Mother of pearl is also used to accent various musical instruments including guitars, harmonicas, accordions, and ouds. Finally, you will also often find mother of pearl featured on women’s clothing as
buttons, as well as on cufflinks for men.
In addition to the difference in composition, mother of pearl and pearls also differ in their supply and availability. Especially compared to mother of pearl, pearls are much rarer. While most molluscs produce mother of pearl, the same cannot be said for pearl gemstones. In fact, only an
extremely low percentage of molluscs produce pearls. Even with advances in pearl cultivation that create ideal conditions for pearl development, an oyster or mussel developing a pearl is never guaranteed. Lastly, more species of molluscs can produce mother of pearl, while only a few types can create gem-quality pearls.
What is mother of pearl inlay?
Mother of pearl is the inner layer of oyster and mussel shells. Each shell is unique in colour and texture with a shiny and iridescent finish, making it an ideal and unique decorative material, especially for the purpose of inlay in wooden furniture, marble tabletops, marble flooring, marble borders, marble pedestals etc.
Individual designs are drawn onto the shells before they are cut. Often, a paper sketch of the design is glued to the surface to produce accurate
designs. The curvature, colours, and patterns of the shell are all considered when determining where the design will be cut on the shell in
efforts to minimize the arch on each piece.
The design is cut skilfully, each piece is then hand-sanded against a large emery wheel to eliminate rough edges created by the saw.
Routing
The pearl design is then carefully arranged onto the surface of the wood/marble to be inlaid. Water-based glue is used to temporarily secure the pieces so that their outlines may be precisely traced. The mother of pearl pieces are then delicately removed, avoiding breaking or chipping them. A small router is used to carve a shallow silhouette onto the wood or marble. The craftsman must be careful to cut only inside the lines to avoid a gap between the design and the wood or marble when the pieces are inserted.
Inlay
Each piece of the mother of Pearl design is rearranged into the carved silhouette. Fine adhesive is used as filler under the design to eliminate
cavities created by the pearl's irregularities. Using light and even pressure, a spatula gently fits each piece into the wood or marble. Glue
is added to secure the pattern. The completed inlay design is then sanded/polished until flush with the wood or marble to remove excess glue and uneven surfaces.
Etching & Finishing
The Mother of Pearl can be etched and filled to make the design come to life. Master engravers use various techniques to achieve diverse linethickness. They are filled with pigment matching the wood/marble colour to accent the depth of the cut. A polish is applied after all details are
added to seal the design.
Abalone is a common name for any of a group of small to exceptionally large sea snails, Other common names are ear shells, sea ears, and
muttonfish or muttonshells in Australia, ormer in the UK, perlemoen in South Africa, and pāua in New Zealand. Abalone are marine snails.
Abalones live all over the world, They can be seen along the waters of every continent, except the Atlantic coast of South America, the Caribbean, and the East Coast of the United States. Most abalones are found in cold waters, along the coasts of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, and Western North America and Japan in the Northern Hemisphere.
Abalone have unique features: the shell is round, with two to three spirals. The last spiral is grown into a large "ear"-like shape, which explains the name 'ear-shell'. The inside of the shell is shiny, from silvery white to green-red mother of pearl.