Antique Spotlight: Mother Of Pearl

Antique Spotlight: Mother Of Pearl

We all know and recognize that luminescence when we see it. Pearls have been used for thousands of years in jewelry, clothing, furniture and home decor. While there’s always talk of natural versus cultured, and fresh versus salt water pearls, we decided to take a closer look at mother of pearls and their prominent role in cultures around the world. Read on to learn about mother of pearl, collecting pearls, and how to spot the real thing when you see it…

Antique Spotlight: Mother Of Pearl

from: Bridget Borchert: “Lovely old hand carved mother of pearl pendant and long m.o.p. bead necklace. This came from India although I am unsure if it was made there. A gift from a friend whose grandparents and mother lived in India from about 1925 to 1950. They were in the tea business. Highly detailed carving. “

Creation

Pearls have been a part of cultures around the world for thousands of years, from ancient Mesopotamia to Polynesia to England and the U.K. Obviously a preferred choice for jewelry, making up endless strands of pearl necklaces and bracelets, pearls and mother of pearl also feature heavily in musical instruments and furniture: inlaid elaborately into tabletops, mirrors and chairs.

Mother of Pearl or Nacre (derived from the Arabic word for shell, “naqqarah”) is the organic, iridescent material that makes up the inside lining of various mollusks’ shells, such as oysters, mussels and abalone. The outer layer of a natural pearl is made of this material and that’s where it gets its recognizable sheen. The phrase “mother of pearl” can refer to either the pearl or the shell of the creature in which it’s found. Pearls are created when a tiny particle of sand or bone is trapped inside an oyster and the organism secretes calcium carbonate that grows and hardens around the piece of sand. As long as the pearl is nestled in the oyster, covered by calcium carbonate and the soft, shimmery outer layer, the pearl continues to grow. Some countries cherish the pearl, whereas others worship the mother of pearl shell lining, considered the source and mother of the pearl’s beauty.

Antique Spotlight: Mother Of Pearl

from: Lorrie Barker: “Can anyone tell me what these are ? They were in some things of my grandmothers, and probably belonged to her mother. The stamp on them says “patented April 26, ’04. I assume that’s 1904. The stone looks to be Mother of Pearl…..maybe Moonstone.”

“Natural pearls” can be found in either fresh water (rivers in England and Ireland) or salt water (Persian Gulf)although salt water pearls are more highly sought afterand also refer to harvested pearls, since they’re still grown and created in a mollusk. As with other gemstones, searching for mother of pearl is something that is time and labor-intensive, requiring divers to go down and retrieve a large selection of mussels, oysters and abalone; this made them all the more valuable. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that two Japanese men (and later Kokichi Mikimoto) came up with a new way of harvesting pearls. Cultured pearls are the result of inserting particles manually into oysters and instigating the growth of a pearl. It allows for controlled mass production of pearls that otherwise would be impossible.

Antique Spotlight: Mother Of Pearl

from: Diane Scott: “My father gave this to my mother (both deceased) about 1956.My mother loved pearls.It is” A Jeweleraft CREATION”.I believe my father bought it in either Quebec City or Montreal.My mother gave it to me shortly before she died.I wear it at all special occassions.I have tried to find info on it but have been unsuccessful.”

Distinguishing Between Real And Fake

Mother of pearl jewelry is timeless and classic. If you’re looking for antique pearls, their popularity does make the search a little more complex, since you have to be able to distinguish the real from the fake. Below, some pointers on how to search for vintage natural pearls:

  1. Hold a pearl between your thumb and forefinger and rub it from side to side against the top, flat part of one of your upper teeth. Be careful not to rub too hard, since you don’t want to scratch the pearl and try not to touch it to your gums. Real pearls have imperfect finishes, so it should feel gritty and sandy against your tooth. If you don’t feel any imperfections and it’s totally smooth, you’re looking at an imitation pearl.
  2. If you don’t want or aren’t able to rub the pearl against your teeth, gently rub two pearls from the same set against one another. Again, because of their surface imperfections there should be friction between the pearls and a light residue that’s left from rubbing them.
  3. The least invasive of the authenticity tests is to have a set of certified natural pearls on hand to compare to. If you look closely, you’ll be able to see the imperfections and recognize that imitation pearls are too smooth and perfect in comparison.

When you’re looking, try to find a certified pearl dealer, but be open to looking at estate sales or flea markets. You never know what you might find and now you have the tools to recognize pieces of value!

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