Iridescent Mother-of-Pearl with a Natural Spiral Shiva's Eye Operculum Gracefully Curved Tusk-Shaped Pendant - Height: 94 mm - Width: 19 mm- 32 g - (1)

This handmade pendant from Bali is a masterful synthesis of natural materials and ethnic symbolism. The piece is conceived as a large, curved form evoking a ritual tusk—an amulet with striking visual impact. The main body is carved entirely from a substantial block of mother-of-pearl, while the top is adorned with a silver setting holding a natural operculum known as “Shiva’s Eye.”

The mother-of-pearl “tusk” is the heart of the piece. Its surface, perfectly smoothed and polished, reveals the complex structure of nacre, the organic material that lines the interiors of certain mollusk shells. On close inspection, the pendant displays a pearly sheen touched by delicate iridescence and orient, with reflections shifting from creamy white to subtle pinkish and greenish hues depending on the angle of the light. Its shape is elegant yet powerful, a flowing arch that combines material solidity with visual lightness.

Crowning the pendant is a solid silver cap, worked in a deliberately rustic style that accentuates its tribal character. A light patina darkens the recesses of the metal, creating an evocative contrast with its polished surface and the whiteness of the mother-of-pearl. Four small silver beads surround the central element, a circular, convex cabochon. This inset is a Shiva’s Eye, the calcareous operculum of the gastropod mollusk Turbo petholatus. This small natural shield, which the animal uses to close the opening of its shell, is famous for the perfectly formed logarithmic spiral on its surface. In this specimen, the spiral is tinged with warm honey tones against a porcelain-white background, creating a hypnotic pattern. Traditionally, in many Eastern cultures, Shiva’s Eye is regarded as a protective talisman, a symbol of the deity’s third eye and of inner vision capable of seeing beyond appearances.

The making of this jewel bears witness to the skill of Balinese artisans in transforming natural elements into objects rich in meaning. The tusk shape, an archetype of strength and protection found in countless cultures, is softened and ennobled here through the use of mother-of-pearl, a material associated with purity and the sea. The result is a contemporary amulet in dialogue with an ancestral tradition, bringing together the marine world and a sculptural aesthetic. With its striking presence and rich symbolism, this pendant is of great interest both to collectors of ethnic jewelry and to anyone who appreciates the uniqueness of handmade objects. It is not a mere ornament, but a small piece of natural history transformed into wearable art—a fragment of a Wunderkammer embodying both nature’s elegance and the knowledge of ancient traditions.

Technical details
Name: Mother-of-Pearl and Shiva’s Eye Pendant
Classification: Biogenic (Mother-of-Pearl, Operculum)
Origin: Bali, Indonesia
Dimensions: 94 x 19 x 15 mm
Weight: 32 g
Material: Mother-of-pearl, Turbo petholatus operculum, silver (unmarked)