Nacre-“Mother of Pearl”
Nacre also known as “Mother of Pearl”, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it also makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. The shining, playful, and reflected light of mother of pearl has attracted the attention of human beings since the beginning of the world. Societies, tribes, and nations have all added the technology of their day to their experience, knowledge, and understanding, and they have turned mother of pearl from one form into another.
Types of Mother of Pearl
White Mother of Pearl: This is from pearl-bearing oysters. Its reflective properties are high and it is one of the most commonly used types of this material.
Iridescent Mother of Pearl: This is a type in which the colours of pink and green are predominant.
Chip (Variegated) Mother of Pearl: This is a multicoloured type.
Stone Mother of Pearl: This type of mother of pearls is white and has low reflective power.
Mat Mother of Pearl: This type of mother of pearl is dull grey and has a low reflective power.
Techniques Employed in Mother of Pearl
The techniques employed in mother of pearl work may be listed as follows:
The Inlaying Method
The Gluing Method
The Paste Method
In the inlaying method, the surface which is to be decorated in mother of pearl is marked with a hard point. The grooves of thin designs to consist of wire, ivory, or bone are opened with a fine chisel and the material is set into them. The motifs whose outlines are thus drawn are carved out to a depth of two or three millimetres using gouges and prepared for the mother of pearl inlays. The use of wire in the inlaying method is known as “Damascus Work”. In “Istanbul Work” on the other hand, bone or ivory is more often used rather than wire.
In the gluing method, no carving takes place on the surface. Instead, the mother of pearls is made to adhere to the surface by means of auxiliary substances.
In the paste method (or scattering method) mother of pearl in small pieces is made to adhere sometimes on a definite line, sometimes at random. The interstices are filled in with a paste of a colour which harmonises with the auxiliary material being used in the work.
A wide range of goods are decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay. The craftsmen contribute significantly to the art, producing: mirror and picture frames; coffee tables; desks; tray stands; jewellery boxes, chess sets; chests; jewellery chests; dressing tables; telephone stands; ashtrays; cigarette boxes etc. There is a large market for mother-of-pearl marquetry worldwide.