POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

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A pearl shell marked with button discs.

Object No. E5182-2

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. 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

Pearl shell, part of a didactic display 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

Physical Description

Pearl shell, part of a didactic display 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 A pearl shell with holes cut in its surface where button blanks have been removed. Additional circular indentations have been marked across the surface of the shell in preparation for cutting.

DIMENSIONS

Height

195 mm

Width

185 mm

SOURCE

Acquisition Date

23 April 1933

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