Mother-of-pearl
Mother of pearl is a smooth shining iridescent substance forming the inner layer of the shell of some molluscs, especially oysters and abalones, used in ornamentation.
Mother-of-pearl Media
The iridescent nacre inside a nautilus shell
Nacreous shell worked into a decorative object
Schematic of the microscopic structure of nacre layers
Electron microscopy image of a fractured surface of nacre
Fossil nautiloid shell with original iridescent nacre in fossiliferous asphaltic limestone, Oklahoma. Dated to the late Middle Pennsylvanian, which makes it by far the oldest deposit in the world with aragonitic nacreous shelly fossils.
Nacre sticks of various colors.
Altarpiece, c. 1520, with extensive use of carved nacre
Nacre gunpowder flask, c. 1750, mostly made of Turbo marmoratus shell
Inlay with nacre tesserae, Topkapı Palace, Istanbul
Engraved nacre pendant, Solomon Islands 1838
