Photograph depicting cutting buttons from pearl shell
Object No. E5182-14
This photograph depicts a worker cutting button blanks from pearl shell in a Sydney button factory in the early 1930s. It is part of a didactic collection which illustrates the complete process of manufacturing pearl buttons as it was carried out in Australia, from diving for shell to marketing the finished article. The display was acquired from The Pearlbutton Manufacturing Company Limited 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. 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
Photograph, part of a didactic collection illustrating pearl button manufacture, black and white print, mounted, cutting buttons from shell, paper / wood, photographer unknown, Australia, for The Pearlbutton Manufacturing Co Ltd, Foster Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1933
Physical Description
Photograph depicting cutting buttons from pearl shell, part of a didactic collection showing how pearl buttons were made, photographer unknown, supplied by The Pearlbutton Manufacturing Co Ltd, Foster Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1933
SOURCE
Acquisition Date
23 April 1933
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
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