International institute for Middle East and Balkan studies - IFIMES
Abstract
From time immemorial shells and indirectly mother - of - pearlgrowing within them have been considered to have magical propertieswhen worn as amulets and have been invested with symbolic meaning.In Christianity a shell is a symbol of the Holy Virgin, while in biblicaltexts a mother-of-pearl formed within a shell is represented as a symbolof Christ. On the basis of such symbolic meanings, this article reviewsthe wide range of use of mother-of-pearl in manufacturing ecclesiasticaland liturgical objects from the 15th to the 18th century in the Balkancountries under Turkish rule. In addition to the religious symbolismascribed to shells and mother of pearl, their use in craftsmanship wasalso dictated by economic reasons. The adverse circumstances of Christiansin the Balkans at that time forced them to opt for less expensivematerials than silver and gold
