Materials > Mother of pearl

Mother of pearl

The hard, pearly, iridescent internal layer of various kinds of mollusk shell, extensively used for making small articles and inlays.

Basics Works of Art Curated Guides

Basics to get you started

Ancient and Byzantine mosaic materials

Works of Art

Beaded collar (ingqosha), Xhosa artist, South Africa

early to mid-20th century

San Vitale and the Justinian and Theodora Mosaics

begun c. 526–527

begun c. 526–27, consecrated 547, with later restorations

540s

Screen with the Siege of Belgrade and Hunting Scene (or Brooklyn Biombo)

c. 1697–1701

Turquoise mosaics, an introduction

c. 15th–16th century

Bull’s Head Rhyton

c. 1550-1500 B.C.E.

Miguel González, The Virgin of Guadalupe

c. 1698

Painting Conservation of the Virgin of Guadalupe

late 17th century

Biombo with the Conquest of Tenochtitlan and View of Mexico City

late 17th century

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