What is nacre also known as?

Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent.

Nacre is found in some of the most ancient lineages of bivalves, gastropods, and cephalopods. The outer layer of cultured pearls and the inside layer of pearl oyster and freshwater pearl mussel shells are made of nacre.

The main commercial sources of mother of pearl have been the pearl oyster, freshwater pearl mussels, and to a lesser extent the abalone, popular for their sturdiness and beauty in the latter half of the 19th century.

Widely used for pearl buttons especially during the 1900s, were the shells of the great green turban snail and the large top snail. The international trade in mother of pearl is governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Both black and white nacre are used for architectural purposes. Nacre may be cut into shapes and laminated to a ceramic tile or marble base.

Nacre inlay is often used for music keys and other decorative motifs on musical instruments. Many accordion and concertina bodies are completely covered in nacre, and some guitars have fingerboard or headstock inlays made of nacre. Nacre is sometimes used to make spoon-like utensils for caviar, so as to not spoil the taste with metal.