© The Card Case Forum, 2012
This shaped, carved, and engraved case is one of the finest mother-of-pearl examples one is likely to find. The central panel is carved in bas relief with two birds and flowers ornamented with turquoise; the background and borders are finely engraved. It was made in the mid-19th century in either England or France.
Unlike ivory, wood and tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl is very brittle, making it difficult to carve and shape. Because of this it is rare to find mother-of-pearl cases with such ornate outlines.
Unlike ivory, wood and tortoiseshell, mother-
WHAT MAKES THIS MOTHER-
| stag antler |
| tiffany silver |
| carved ivory |
| carved sandalwood |
| cloisonne |
| gold & enamel |
| gold filigree |
| japanese lacquer |
| mop & turquoise |
| persian silver |
| red-felt birchbark |
| red-stained ivory |
| birch-bark |
| gold by asprey |
| indian filigree |
| irish bog oak |
| japanese ivory |
| lukutin lacquer |
| palais royal |
| papier-mache |
| russian nephrite |
| silesian wire-work |
| chequer ware |
| faberge enamel |
| gem painted pearl |
| gold & enamel |
| ivory & lacquer |
| japanese lacquer |
| japanese lacquer |
| mother-of-pearl |
| silver castle top |
| tortoiseshell |
| chalcedony |
| elephant tooth |
| faberge enamel |
| inlaid lacquer |
| japanese ivory |
| red sealing wax |
| russian cloisonne |
| seaweed ware |
| tiffany enamel |
| tiffany silver |
| tunbridge ware |
| bamboo |
| chinese enamel |
| chinese silk |
| derbyshire marble |
| european ivory |
| french straw work |
| japanese bronze |
| japanese komai |
| lukutin lacquer |
| red-stained ivory |
| shibayama |
| spiers papier mache |
| buckskin |
| faberge gold |
| leather |
| mauchline ware |
| porcelain |
| rock crystal |