mother-of pearl

Ingredients

mother-of pearl

Evidence

"Hardwood with inlaid mother-of pearl ornamentations."

Remarks

The water clock, originally constructed by Muhammad b. 'Ali (d. 618/1231) and later repaired and described by his son Ridwan as-Sa'ati, featured elaborate hardwood casing with mother-of-pearl inlays. This decorative technique was used for high-status mechanical devices in the 13th-century Syrian context to provide contrasting visual ornamentation against dark hardwood (p. 98).