Mother-of-pearl. Certain shellfish, such as pearl oysters, abalones, and freshwater mussels, produce shells lined with a lustrous, rainbow-colored material. This material is called mother-of-pearl, or nacre << NAY kuhr >>. It varies in color from pale grayish-blue and pink to purple and green. Shells containing mother-of-pearl are found off the coasts of tropical countries, particularly around the South Sea Islands, the Philippine Islands, Australia, Panama, and Lower California.
Mother-of-pearl has long been commercially valuable. It has been used for ornamentation, in the manufacture of buttons, and in the inlay for various works of art, particularly those made of wood and silver. People of many island cultures have bartered mother-of-pearl for other goods. Today, mother-of-pearl is commonly used in making jewelry, such as pearl necklaces, and for decorative pocketknife handles.
See also Pearl (Cultured pearls).
