Pearlescence and chatoyance predominate, with occasional ivory, amber, linens, china, and select "smalls".
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About Us
Although long-time collectors and dealers of pearlescent antiques and artifacts, our expertise in shell has been gained through more than 40 years as a major supplier of nacreous shell (under a different business name: Duke of Pearl) to various industries, notably in the fields of musical instruments, furniture, and jewelry. We currently process around 250 metric tons of shell per year, from 18 different species, and hold three U.S. patents on shell material.
Having also been active during most of that time as professional musical instrument builders specializing and pioneering in the arts of inlay and overlay, we have a "hands-on" appreciation for both the wonderful variety of shell materials as well as the skills and techniques necessary to work them, whether ancient or modern.
Thus, our highly trained sensual prejudices work in favor of bringing to your display cabinet only the finest examples of shell workmanship! Not all "mother of pearl" is created equal, and although certainly not the only factor in desirability or collectability, when appropriate our item notes will reflect a sometimes brutally honest appraisal of the level of craft found in each piece. We'll make an effort to avoid empty, gushing, overwrought, generic, meaningless superlatives in describing the items we offer, while respecting your own acumen and intelligence as to what might be "fantastic" or "a must for your collection" without our needing to point that out!
We do hope your own appreciation for things pearly is refreshed and stimulated by the objects we find delight in presenting!