A didactic display illustrating pearl button manufacture
Object No. E5182
This group of objects illustrates how pearl shell was made into pearl buttons in Sydney in the 1930s. The display was acquired from 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. The Torres Strait supplied over half the world demand for pearl shell in the 1890s. In addition to buttons, pearl shell was used for cutlery, hair combs, jewellery, decorative objects and inlay for furniture. The Powerhouse Museum collection includes a variety of objects made from pearl shell. Kathy Hackett, Photo Librarian
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Summary
Object Statement
Didactic collection of objects and photographs, illustrating pearl button manufacture, pearl shell / cardboard / paper, made by The Pearl Button Manufacturing Co Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1933, with pearl shell collected from the sea around northern Australia
Physical Description
Didactic display of objects and photographs used to show how pearl shell was made into pearl buttons, pearl shell / cardboard, made by The Pearlbutton Manufacturing Co Ltd, Foster Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1933, with pearl shell gathered from the sea around northern Australia A didactic display illustrating pearl button manufacture. The display consists of 23 specimens, and 9 pictures illustrating process of manufacture.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Presented by Pearlbutton Manufacturing Co Ltd, 1933
Acquisition Date
23 April 1933
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