N is for Nacre [ney-ker]
Nacre is also known as mother-of-pearl, the iridescent layer of a mollusk shell. The outer layer of pearls and the inside layer of pearl oyster and freshwater pearl mussel shells are made of nacre. Nacre is composed of hexagonal platelets of aragonite (a form of calcium carbonate), separated by sheets of organic matrix composed of elastic biopolymers. This mixture of brittle platelets and thin layers of elastic biopolymers makes the material strong and resilient. Nacre has been used over many centuries for all kinds of decorative purposes--from buttons to furniture inlay. From raw mother of pearl, Cebu craftsmen combined it with brass, gold or silver-plated metal and made it into something elegant and luxurious.
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| a mother-of-pearl butterfly dish |
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| cast brass crab with mother-of-pearl dish |
Linking to ABC Wednesday
12 comments:
Such an Nteresting chice for this week's letter. I love that butterfly dish!
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team
Beautiful shots and a great word for N day. Carver, ABC Wednesday Team
I didn't know that nacre was so beautiful and that such stunning artifacts could be made of it.
A great N word!
Wil, ABC Team
Nacre is a new word for me! I have always though mother-of-pearl is very pretty and the dishes are quite lovely!
so beautiful! great word.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
incredible creations. i really like the finished product. i know nacres are also used for jewelry.
our paua shells are very beautiful.
That's a new word for me. Mother of pearl dish is lovely.
Great, shiny word for N! love your mother-of-pearl objects.
N is for...
gorgeous takes!
Great choice; the dishes are exquisite.
Oh you reminded me of the wing oysters, producing those pearls in the first photo. I have two of those given to me in the past, now i have to look for them.
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