Mother-of-pearl in art: 8 works, most common in Islamic Art

Medium8 works

Collection Summary

Works Held	8
Date Range	1981 BC – 2000
Primary Department	Islamic Art (19)
Most Common Form	Jewelry (13)
Cultures Represented	10
Countries	12
Public Domain	27 works (47%)

Works by Century

20th century BC

2nd century

7th century

11th century

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

Departments

Islamic Art

Musical Instruments

Arms and Armor

Ancient Near Eastern Art

Asian Art

Egyptian Art

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Costume Institute

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Medieval Art

Forms & Classifications

Jewelry

Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted

Wood

Chordophone-Lute-bowed-unfretted

Firearms-Guns-Miquelet

Shell-Ornaments

Chess Sets

Firearms Accessories-Flasks & Primers

Shell

Wood-Sculpture

Cultures Represented

Turkish · 6 Indian · 3 Persian · 3 Syrian · 3Nicobar Islands · 2Sasanian · 2Albanian; lock Turkish; trigger and guard European · 1Algerian · 1Algerian or Moroccan · 1Armenian or Georgian · 1

Historical Periods

Middle Kingdom–Second Intermediate Period · 3Sasanian · 2late Sasanian–early Islamic · 1 Mughal period (1526–1858) · 1 Six Dynasties Period · 1

Geographic Distribution

Egypt

Syria

India

Algeria

Azerbaijan, Armenia or Georgia

Turkey

Algeria or Morocco

Byzantine Egypt

Iran (Persia)

Pakistan

Cities Represented

Maghagha · 9Damascus · 3Kotah · 1Karachi · 1Tashkent · 1Istanbul · 1

Works Index

Title	Classification	Date	Origin
Pendant	Shell-Ornaments	ca. 6th–8th century A.D.	Sasanian or Islamic
Crosses	Jewelry	3rd–12th century	Egypt
Crucifix	Jewelry	3rd–12th century	Egypt
Handle	Shell-Implements	ca. 3rd–7th century A.D.	Sasanian
Pendant	Jewelry	3rd–12th century	Egypt
Plaque	Shell-Ornaments	ca. 3rd–7th century A.D.	Sasanian
Pierced disc	Shell-Ornaments	ca. 8th century A.D.
Plaque	Sculpture-Miniature	8th–9th century	Byzantine Egypt
Plaque for a Collar or Necklace	Jewelry	8th century?	Egypt
Plaque for a Collar or Necklace	Jewelry	8th century?	Egypt
Plaque for a Collar or Necklace	Jewelry	8th century?	Egypt
Plaque for a Collar or Necklace	Jewelry	8th century?	Egypt
Plaque for a Collar or Necklace	Jewelry	8th century?	Egypt
Plaque for a Collar or Necklace	Jewelry	8th century?	Egypt
Plaque for a Collar or Necklace	Jewelry	8th century?	Egypt
Plaque for a Collar or Necklace	Jewelry	8th century?	Egypt
Plaque for a Collar or Necklace	Jewelry	8th century?	Egypt
Damascus Room	Wood	dated A.H. 1119/A.D. 1707	Syria
Nimcha (Saber) with Scabbard	Swords	hilt and scabbard, late 17th or early 18th century; blade 16th or 17th century	hilt and scabbard, Algerian; blade, European
Plate	Shell	mid 16th–17th century	India (Gujarat)
Brooch	Jewelry	17th–19th century	Nepal
Chest	Wood	18th century	Syria
Chest	Wood	18th century	Syria
Chest	Wood	18th century	Syria
Inlaid Powder Horn	Arms and Armor	18th century	India
Miquelet Rifle	Firearms-Guns-Miquelet	late 18th century	Turkish
Ūd	Chordophone-Lute-plucked-unfretted	1916	Turkey
6 Fragments from a bracelet		ca. 1981–1550 B.C.	Egypt
Bracelet of 22 plaques		ca. 1981–1550 B.C.	Egypt
Bracelet with 24 plaques		ca. 1981–1550 B.C.	Egypt
Chess set	Chess Sets	18th–19th century	Indian
Wine cup	Shell	18th century	India (Rajasthan?)
Dagger (Pesh-kabz) with Sheath and Baldric	Daggers	18th–19th century	Indian
Flintlock Gun	Firearms-Guns-Flintlock	18th–19th century	Albanian; lock Turkish; trigger and guard European
Miquelet Gun	Firearms-Guns-Miquelet	18th century	Turkish
Primer	Firearms Accessories-Flasks & Primers	18th–19th century	Syrian
Primer (Shakh-Dahana)	Firearms Accessories-Flasks & Primers	18th–19th century	Persian
Miquelet Gun	Firearms-Guns-Miquelet	late 18th century	Turkish
Box-board	Chess Sets	19th century	Persian
Clogs	Accessory-Foot and Leg wear-Womenswear	19th century

Related materials

Earthenware2,395 works Glass2,271 works Wood1,934 works Pottery1,727 works Stucco1,641 works Bronze1,603 works linen1,599 works Wool1,509 works

Data Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Open Access