Collections Online | British Museum

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

mother-of-pearl

Header: mother-of-pearl
Also known as: mother-of-pearl; nacre; pearlshell; pearl shell; mother of pearl
Broader terms: x11435; pearlshell

1,198 related objects

album; postcard

Museum number: 1976,0927,0.6 |
Production place: Made in:Japan

amulet

Museum number: 128822 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Iraq, South

amulet

Museum number: EA26549 |
Cultures/periods: x14452 Roman Period |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Egypt

amulet

Museum number: 123017 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Ur (historic - city)

amulet

Museum number: EA17679 |
Cultures/periods: x13769 Coptic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Abusir (Memphis)

amulet

Museum number: 126424 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Brak (Syria)Excavated/Findspot:Tell Atchana

amulet

Museum number: OA.1380 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Europe

amulet; pendant

Museum number: EA21682 |
Cultures/periods: x13769 Coptic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Egypt

amulet

Museum number: 120660 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Ur (historic - city)

amulet; ornament

Museum number: 123027 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Ur (historic - city)

amulet

Museum number: 1938,0727.92 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Brak (Syria)

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.85 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.88 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: As1981,20.189 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Maldives

animal remains

Museum number: Oc,M.534 |
Ethnic group: Made by:Trobriand IslanderMade by:Massim |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Trobriand Islands

animal remains

Museum number: 1984,0514.5199 |
Cultures/periods: x100910 Levantine |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Tell es-Sweyhat

animal remains

Museum number: 1919,1011.3929 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Abu Shahrain (Eridu)

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.79 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.86 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.89 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.87 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.80 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.81 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.84 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains; jewellery-making equipment

Museum number: Am1998,06.106 |
Production date: 1998 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Zuni Pueblo

animal remains

Museum number: 1919,1011.4779 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Tell Al-'Ubaid

animal remains

Museum number: OA+.12225 |
Cultures/periods: x22966 Abbasid dynasty |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Samarra

animal remains; artefact

Museum number: Af1975,Q.424 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Africa

animal remains

Museum number: 1984,0514.5186 |
Cultures/periods: x100910 Levantine |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Tell es-Sweyhat

animal remains

Museum number: 152222 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Tal-i-Regi (Madavan)

animal remains

Museum number: Oc,M.533 |
Ethnic group: Made by:Trobriand IslanderMade by:Massim |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Trobriand Islands

animal remains

Museum number: 1939,0619.337 |
Cultures/periods: x46239 Indus Valley Civilisation |
Production date: 2500BC-2000BC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mohenjo-daro

animal remains; artefact

Museum number: Af1975,Q.425 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Africa

animal remains

Museum number: As1981,20.195 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Maldives

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.90 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.83 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.92 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.91 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains

Museum number: Oc1989,03.82 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Fiji

animal remains; jewellery-making equipment

Museum number: Am1998,06.105 |
Production date: 1998 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Zuni Pueblo

animal remains

Museum number: 1886,0401.1595 |
Cultures/periods: Archaic GreekLate Period |
Production date: (late)7thC BC - (mid)7thC AD |
Production place: Made in:EuropeMade in:Red Sea |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Naukratis

animal-head-dress; horse-trappings

Museum number: As1988,16.15 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Sindh

apron

Museum number: 2008,8011.6 |
Production date: 20thC |
Production place: Made in:Albania |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Krujë

architecture; inlay

Museum number: OA+.11991.1-18 |
Cultures/periods: x22966 Abbasid dynasty |
Production date: 9thc |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Dar al-Khilafa

armlet

Museum number: Oc,M.322 |
Ethnic group: Made by:Trobriand IslanderMade by:Massim |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Trobriand Islands

armlet

Museum number: Oc1955,03.7 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Sentani, Lake

armlet

Museum number: Oc.6058 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Vanuatu

armlet

Museum number: Oc,M.558 |
Ethnic group: Made by:Trobriand IslanderMade by:Massim |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Trobriand Islands

armlet

Museum number: Oc,M.556 |
Ethnic group: Made by:Trobriand IslanderMade by:Massim |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Trobriand Islands

artefact

Museum number: 114199 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Tell Al-'Ubaid

artefact

Museum number: 1902,1220.92 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Taklamakan

artefact

Museum number: EA62416 |
Cultures/periods: x14419 Predynastic |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Mostagedda

artefact

Museum number: OA+.12224 |
Cultures/periods: x22966 Abbasid dynasty |
Production date: 9thc |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Dar al-Khilafa

artefact

Museum number: OA+.12226.1-5 |
Cultures/periods: x22966 Abbasid dynasty |
Production date: 9thc |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Samarra

artefact

Museum number: 1919,1111.1296 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Abu Shahrain (Eridu)

artefact

Museum number: 1919,1011.3928 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Abu Shahrain (Eridu)

artefact; animal remains

Museum number: Am1936,1128.42 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Belize

artefact; currency

Museum number: Oc1944,02.965 |
Ethnic group: x84311 Made by:Micronesian |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Yap

artefact

Museum number: 1919,1011.3931 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Abu Shahrain (Eridu)

artefact

Museum number: OA+.12223 |
Cultures/periods: x22966 Abbasid dynasty |
Production date: 9thc |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Samarra

artefact

Museum number: OA+.12135.1-4 |
Cultures/periods: x22966 Abbasid dynasty |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Samarra

bag; religious/ritual equipment

Museum number: Af1970,24.3 |
Ethnic group: x85201 Made by:Xhosa |
Production place: Made in:Transkei |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Butterworth (South Africa)

bag

Museum number: Oc1978,Q.480 |
Ethnic group: x84255 Made by:Massim |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Marshall Bennett Islands

bag

Museum number: Af1937,1130.1 |
Ethnic group: x84752 Made by:San |
Production place: Made in:Botswana |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Bakwa Reserve

bailer

Museum number: Oc1913,0524.82 |
Ethnic group: x84234 Made by:Māori |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Wanganui RiverFound/Acquired:Whanganui River

bangle

Museum number: EA51204 |
Cultures/periods: x13568 A-Group Culture |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Faras (Nubia)

bangle

Museum number: EA20984 |
Cultures/periods: x14388 Pan Grave |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Egypt

bangle

Museum number: EA20985 |
Cultures/periods: x14388 Pan Grave |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Egypt

banjo

Museum number: Eu1972,01.10 |
Producer name: BIOG208848 Made by:Barnett Samuel & Sons |
Production date: 19thC(late)-20thC(early) |
Production place: Made in:London (England) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Europe

baptismal shell

Museum number: OA.6662 |
Production place: Made in:IsraelMade in:Syria

baptismal shell

Museum number: 1896,1212.2 |
Production date: 16thC |
Production place: Made in:Germany

barrel

Museum number: As1986,Q.6 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:China

basin; garniture

Museum number: OA+.2644 |
Production date: 17thC(early) |
Production place: Made in:Gujarat (State)

basket

Museum number: Af1991,01.7 |
Ethnic group: x83279 Made by:Berber |
Production date: 1990 |
Production place: Made in:Siwa Oasis |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Cairo (city)

bead

Museum number: 1880.3851.g |
Production date: 1stC |
Production place: Made in:Afghanistan |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Bimaran Stupa 2

bead

Museum number: 1880.3918.a |
Production date: 5thC (late) |
Production place: Made in:Afghanistan |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Hadda Stupa 10

bead

Museum number: 1880.3855.g |
Production date: 1stC |
Production place: Made in:Afghanistan |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Bimaran Stupa 2

bead

Museum number: EA81959 |
Cultures/periods: x14382 Ottoman dynasty |
Production date: 1550-1700AD |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Qasr Ibrim (Nubia)

bead

Museum number: EA24617 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Egypt

bead; necklace

Museum number: OA.895 |
Cultures/periods: x272757 Early Byzantine |
Production date: 5thC-6thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Qaw el-Kebir

bead

Museum number: 1928,1009.150 |
Cultures/periods: x14236 Mesopotamian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Ur (historic - city)

bead

Museum number: 1880.3929.p |
Production date: 5thC (late) |
Production place: Made in:Afghanistan |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Hadda Stupa 10

bead

Museum number: EA81218 |
Cultures/periods: x14382 Ottoman dynasty |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Qasr Ibrim (Nubia)

bead; button

Museum number: OA+.12490 |
Cultures/periods: x14001 Islamic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kirman (province)

bead

Museum number: EA63292 |
Cultures/periods: x14388 Pan Grave |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mostagedda

bead

Museum number: 1880.4104.c |
Production date: 1stC |
Production place: Made in:Afghanistan |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Bimaran Stupa 2Excavated/Findspot:Passani Stupa 'tumulus' 2

bead

Museum number: 1880.3908.i-j |
Production date: 1stC |
Production place: Made in:Afghanistan |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Bimaran Stupa 2Excavated/Findspot:Passani Stupa 'tumulus' 2

bead

Museum number: As1981,20.270.a-e |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Maldives

bead

Museum number: EA80819 |
Cultures/periods: ChristianPost-Christian |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Qasr Ibrim (Nubia)

bead

Museum number: EA90119 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Egypt

bead

Museum number: EA21684 |
Cultures/periods: x13769 Coptic |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Egypt

bead

Museum number: 1892,1103.38 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya)

bead

Museum number: EA81496 |
Cultures/periods: x14382 Ottoman dynasty |
Production date: 1550-1700AD |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Qasr Ibrim (Nubia)

bead

Museum number: EA81643 |
Cultures/periods: x14382 Ottoman dynasty |
Production date: 1550-1700AD |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Qasr Ibrim (Nubia)

bead

Museum number: 1880.3893.r-w |
Production date: 1stC |
Production place: Made in:Afghanistan |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Bimaran Stupa 2

bead

Museum number: 1880.3929.o |
Production date: 5thC (late) |
Production place: Made in:Afghanistan |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Hadda Stupa 10

belt

Museum number: 2008,8011.8 |
Production date: 20thC |
Production place: Made in:Albania |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Krujë

belt

Museum number: Oc1950,02.96 |
Ethnic group: Made by:Trobriand IslanderMade by:Massim |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Trobriand Islands

belt

Museum number: As1981,23.11 |
Ethnic group: x83258 Made by:Bedouin

betel-tray

Museum number: As,Bs.14 |
Production date: 19thC |
Production place: Made in:Thailand |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Thailand