Royal Mother of Pearl Urn

Mother of pearl is inlaid across the surface of this brass urn in small irregular pieces, so the colour moves from white to pink to pale green depending on where you stand. Each shell fragment is set on its own, which means no two of these urns pattern out in quite the same way.

The urn is 10.5 inches tall and holds 220 cubic inches, matching an adult up to roughly 220 lb. Inlay work suits indoor display better than burial, where soil movement can lift shell pieces over the years; a mantel, a shelf, or a glass-fronted niche keeps the surface intact. The lid unthreads from the top for filling.

• Shell inlay over brass, so the pattern varies from the photograph
• Dust with a dry soft cloth and keep solvents and metal polish away from it
• 220 cubic inches, sized for an adult up to about 220 lb