"Mother-of-Pearl Craftsmanship"
Mother-of-pearl craftsmanship is a type of woodcraft created by inlaying uniformly cut pieces of mother-of-pearl into various carved designs on wooden constructions. Also known simply as “mother-of-pearl work,” it is an important traditional handmade art form applied to interior elements.
This art involves embedding pieces of mother-of-pearl into wooden items such as Quran boxes, writing desks, chests, chairs, mirrors, and musical instruments. Artisans prepare the designs by cutting the inner shells of mollusks into various shapes. They draw motifs onto wooden surfaces, carve the outlines, create spaces for the inlays, and decorate the wood with intricate patterns. Finally, the surface is smoothed with a polisher, burnt for coloring, and lacquered with melted resin. Practitioners often prefer dense woods like walnut, ebony, and mahogany, using dark hues to contrast with the shimmering mother-of-pearl. Geometric and calligraphic motifs are commonly employed for decoration.
Today, artisans share their knowledge and skills through social media, online blogs, training programs, and workshops, thereby enhancing social cohesion and cultural exchange among different countries. Mother-of-pearl craftsmanship also contributes to the preservation of tangible heritage, social memory, and cultural identity through the restoration of historical items displayed in museums.
On December 6, 2023, during the 18th session held in Kasane, Botswana, “Mother-of-Pearl Craftsmanship,” jointly submitted by Azerbaijan and Turkey, was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
