The Stunning Old-School Material To Keep Your Eyes Peeled For At The Thrift Store

Thrifting is a fun way to find unique vintage items to elevate your home décor style. If you find yourself wondering what to look for or carrying objects around the store trying to decide if you should buy them, you're not alone. Knowing which materials and valuable trinkets you should always look for at thrift shops is helpful. The stunning old-school material to keep an eye out for at the thrift store is mother-of-pearl.

Mother-of-pearl is the inside of the shell, or nacre, where a pearl grows. Think of the shell as the mother and the pearl as the baby. Both the pearl and mother-of-pearl form in response to irritants getting inside the shell. The nacre surrounds the grain of sand or other irritant and forms the pearl. Some of the nacre coats the inside of the shell and forms mother-of-pearl. Opportunities abound to find mother-of-pearl in many jewelry, accessory, and décor items at thrift stores. Mother-of-pearl has been used from ancient civilizations to the modern time. Over the centuries, it has been commonly used in jewelry, buttons, and household objects, such as mirror frames, decorative trays, vanity sets, utensils, and dishes to add a touch of luxury. Mother-of-pearl inlays can be found in jewelry boxes, trinket boxes, gaming pieces, picture frames, and furniture.

Mother-of-pearl is considered a semi-precious organic gem, rather than a gemstone. The value and price of mother-of-pearl objects varies from less than $100 to thousands of dollars. The age of the piece, historical significance, intricacy of the design, and the type of metal used in the setting influences the cost of items in boutiques, antique stores, and online.

Savvy thrift shoppers can often find gorgeous mother-of-pearl pieces at thrift shops and estate sales. You just need to follow a few tips to recognize genuine mother-of-pearl. Colors can range from creamy white to light gray with shifting iridescent colors in the light. Genuine mother-of-pearl reflects light showing hints of pink, gold, or blue and is smooth and cool to the touch.

The design style of furniture and décor items can be another clue. Mother-of-pearl inlays have been used in furniture from ancient civilizations and Victorian period to Colonial America and the early and mid-20^th century. Beautiful mother-of-pearl inlays is one reason you should be thrifting art deco gems this year. If you have a vintage dresser or find a beautiful piece of furniture on your trip to the thrift shop, adding mother-of-pearl knobs is a great way to give vintage wood furniture a modern update.