This is a film of both the decorative and practical uses of mother of pearl filmed at Gillott & Son (Pearl Works) Ltd, Sheffield by the owner. Using intertitles throughout, the filmmaker showcases objects such as pearl handle cutlery, buttons and broaches. Title - Orford films presents Title - Fashioning Mother-O'-Pearl. Title - A thing of exquisite beauty from the depths of the ocean. The opening shot in this film shows a man opening a shell to reveal its shimmering interior....

This is a film of both the decorative and practical uses of mother of pearl filmed at Gillott & Son (Pearl Works) Ltd, Sheffield by the owner. Using intertitles throughout, the filmmaker showcases objects such as pearl handle cutlery, buttons and broaches. Title - Orford films presents Title - Fashioning Mother-O'-Pearl. Title - A thing of exquisite beauty from the depths of the ocean. The opening shot in this film shows a man opening a shell to reveal its shimmering interior. Title - The Mother-O'-Pearl shell is finished mainly from the seas of Australia, Burma and the Philippine Islands. More shells are laid out on a surface. Title - Throughout the ages, craftsmen have fashioned it into many beautiful objects. Various are shown that have been crafted using the Mother-O'-Pearl shell. Title - The 'Adoration of the Magi', an exquisite panel by Italian craftsmen. Inside a sealed wooden frame, a detailed engraving has been made using the Mother-O-Pearl shell. Title - In the French Louis period craftsmanship reached its peak in the production of pearl sticks for fans. The filmmaker captures various shots of fans, which incorporate pearl sticks and are decorated with paintings from the Louis period. Title - Japanese craftsmen made their contribution with exquisite peal pictures, mounted into ivory and other materials. Piece of pearl are intricately positioned to create different pictures on Small slates of Ivory. Title - The second part of our story shows how the craft is still kept alive in England today. A Workman removes a new batch of shells from a box. Title - The shells are being 'split' to make handles for Sheffield's finest cutlery. Using a jig saw, a workman cuts the shells into the appropriate size, they are then filed down to produce a smooth surface and a hole is drilled into the core. A woman, wearing blue overalls and a hairnet, uses a motorised spinning wheel to polish the pearl handle. Title - After polishing, the handles are seen in a more familiar state. A draw is pulled open to reveal the finished articles of pearl handled cutlery. The cutlery draw is then placed on a table, where a woman lays the cutlery out on a dining table. Title - No table is complete without Mother-O'-Pearl spoons. A leather bound box is opened, and inside are spoons made entirely from pearl, which are then placed with a floral china tea set. Title - The production of Mother-O'-Pearl jewellery, the most modern trend, which gives unlimited scope for the skill of the craftsman. Using a wooden template, a craftsman draws an outline on a shell, and then cuts it out using a Jig saw. The extracted piece is then filed down, and the filmmaker cuts to later in the process where a white dove has been produced, and precise detail is carefully filed into the wings. Title - Special fittings are fixed on to the brooch to match the everlasting hard wearing properties of the Mother-O'-Pearl. Holes are drilled into the wings of the Dove brooch, before a metal pin is fastened to the back. Next, tiny jewels are carefully placed on the brooch, and the finished product is then held aloft for the camera. Title - Exquisite and varied designs, carved by the skill of the craftsman to adorn the ladies of many lands. A range of pearl jewellery is presented on velvet cushions; some of the designs include butterflies, sailboats and flowers. The final shot of this film shows the originator of all these spectacular beauties; the Mother-O'-Pearl shell in all her natural splendour. Title - The end.