Carved Shell & Pearl
106 piecesVictorian carved shell buttons, popular from the mid-to-late 19th century, were crafted from mother-of-pearl, oyster, and freshwater mussel shells, often featuring intricate and delicate engravings.
Victorian Carved Shell Pearl Buttons
Victorian carved shell buttons, popular from the mid-to-late 19th century, were crafted from mother-of-pearl, oyster, and freshwater mussel shells, often featuring intricate and delicate engravings. They symbolized wealth, refinement, and sentimental fashion. Major manufacturing hubs in England and the United States — most notably Muscatine, Iowa — produced millions of these buttons before they were eventually replaced by synthetic plastics. Also known as “pearl buttons,” these were made from the iridescent shells. Early Victorian buttons were handmade, but by around 1850, machine-cut production became widespread. Skilled artisans in centers such as Birmingham, and later in the United States, carved, polished, dyed, and sometimes inlaid the shells to create decorative effects. Shell buttons were regarded as indicators of status and wealth.
Ring size
Carved Victorian Pearl with Citrine Facet Center Ring Size 7
Carved Shell Floral w/ Steel Facet Border Ring Size 7
Victorian Tinted Carved Pearl Button with Garnet facet Stone Center Size 8
Victorian Tinted Carved Pearl & Abalone Village Scene Size 8
Carved Shell Village Scene w/ Steel Facet Rim Button Ring Size 8
Carved Victorian Pearl w/ Steel facet accent &Tourmaline Center Ring Size 7.5
Carved Victorian Tinted Pearl Ring Size 7.5
Victorian Steel Facet Border & Star w/ Shell Button Ring Size 7.5
Victorian Carved Pearl w/ Ruby facet Center set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
Victorian Carved Pearl Floral Button w/ Facet Tourmaline Center set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7.5
Victorian Carved Pearl w/ Emerald Stone Center set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
Victorian Carved Shell Pearl Button w/ Facet Tourmaline Center set in sterling Silver Ring Size 8
Victorian Carved Shell with Tourmaline Facet Center Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 8
Antique Metal Hot Air Balloon w/ Pearl Background Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
Victorian Carved Pearl W/ Gold Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
Victorian Carved Pearl Button W/ Brass Rim set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button w/ Facet Garnet Center set in Sterling Silver Ring Design Size 8
Victorian Tinted shell Button set in Sterling silver Filigree Ring Design Size 8
Victorian Carved Shell Button w/ Amethyst Stone Center Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
Victorian Carved Shell Button w/ Garnet Stone Center Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7
Victorian Carved Shell Button w/ Garnet Center set in Sterling Silver Size 8.5
Victorian Carved Shell Button w/Tourmaline Center set in Sterling Silver Size 7.5
Victorian Carved Shell Button w/Tourmaline Center set in Sterling Silver Size 8
