What exactly is Mother of Pearl?
Mother of Pearl is the layman’s term for the inner lining of some mollusk shells.
It is formally known as nacre.
The mollusk makes this material to help protect its soft tissue against debris and parasites that could damage it. Over time, as this layer builds it can create a blister pearl, which is attached to the inside of the shell.
If a loose piece of debris is introduced into the mollusk tissue it will build this layer around it, creating a pearl.
People are drawn to nacre because of its characteristic iridescence, making it widely used for all kinds of decorative purposes for centuries.
What is your favorite décor that incorporates nacre, or Mother of Pearl?
Comment on our blog or post on our forum and tell us about it!
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_of_pearl
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