#pearl shell

coquillagous/coquillagousity - a coquillagean gender quality; a gender quality related to seashells, sea creatures, or anything related to the sea; a gender quality related to seashells, collecting of seashells, & gift shops at beaches.

cochlia | coclia | coclea

cochlia - a term for an older coquillagean individual.

coclia - a term for a coquillagean individual regardless of age.

coclea - a term for a younger coquillagean individual.

rosary shell | pearl shell

rosary shell - a term for a coquillagean partner.

pearl shell - a term for a coquillagean spouse.

symbols from photopea.

David Michael 'Rain or Shine' Earrings With Light Blue and Yellow Sapphires, Diamonds and Hand Carved Paspaley Pearl Shells

Photo Courtesy: David Michael

Half an oyster shell demonstrating pearl shell button manufacture, circa 1875-1885

This object is part of a collection which illustrates how pearl shell was made into pearl buttons in Sydney in the 1930s. The display was given to the Museum by The Pearlbutton Manufacturing Company of Foster Street, Sydney, in 1933.

Pearl divers in places such as Thursday Island, Broome and Port Darwin harvested the Golden Lip pearl shell, (Pinctada maxima), from which the buttons were made. The shell was shipped to the Sydney factory for production. After cutting the button shaped pieces from the shell, the 'blanks' were then split to an even thickness, an operation performed by hand and one requiring considerable judgement and skill.

Buttons made from pearl shell were valued because they were durable and retained their lustre unaffected by washing. After World War II, plastics replaced pearl shell as the preferred material for buttons.

Who turned out better?

A section of pearl shell used in manufacturing buttons.