Marquetry, with inlays of ivory, tortoise-shell and mother-of-pearl became one of the major decorative arts in Ottoman times. Because of its luminous and multicolored reflection, mother-of-pearl was particularly popular, in spite of its hardness and brittle nature, which made its treatment complicated.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Istanbul, Topkapı paleis’ (Atrium cultuurgidsen)