Mother of pearl, also called nacre, is an iridescent layer of material that forms the shell lining of many mollusks. Pearl oyster and abalone are both sources of this substance, which is widely used as an inlay in jewelry, furniture, and musical instruments. Mother of pearl comes in several natural colors, but is often bleached and dyed for decorative use. The dye retains the shimmering layers which make the material so sought after. Nacre is a tough and resilient material, but it is relatively soft and easily scratched.
The pearly lining of mollusk shells has long been noted by people living near the ocean. Many early cultures used it extensively in jewelry and it came to be highly prized. Although not as popular as it once was, many modern cultures still appreciate its beauty and mother of pearl continues to be used in jewelry, ornaments, furniture inlays and musical instruments. Some homes integrate it into tiles and other fixtures, although it is no longer used extensively.
Nacre has been much studied by scientists interested not only in its strength and durability, but also in what it can tell them about the conditions in which it formed. The thickness and structure of the layers secreted by marine mollusks depends on the temperature and water pressure. It is therefore possible to obtain valuable information about past conditions from the study of fossilized material.
Even in modern society, a society full of various decorative material, mother of pearl still has its value---decorating home. Its natural feeling and bright color make them praised by many designers when decorating houses.
In earlier time, people use mother of pearl as money. In modern time, people use mother of pearl to decorate house. Even in different function, the beauty mother of pearl showing never changes just like the picture showing.
