Mother of Pearl Gaming Counters
Original Mother of Pearl Counters Handcarved Between 1720 - 1840
Mother of Pearl Gaming Counters
Original Mother of Pearl Counters Handcarved Between 1720 - 1840
Imua East Designs
Authentic Mother of Pearl Jewelry
Imua East specializes in creating unique jewelry featuring rare, hand-carved mother of pearl gaming counters from 18th and 19th century China. These one-of-a-kind pieces were originally used as gaming counters or "poker chips" in Western Europe and are now showcased in our designs.
History
Mother of Pearl Gaming Counters
Armorial and Non-Armorial Counters
Armorial and Non-Armorial Counters
There are extremely few occurrences in the history of mankind when people from a specific location of a specific country came up with a such a unique art form that others are unable to copy, produce or manufacture similar or better examples of the same origin. This anomaly occurred sometime in the late 16th century when the people along t
There are extremely few occurrences in the history of mankind when people from a specific location of a specific country came up with a such a unique art form that others are unable to copy, produce or manufacture similar or better examples of the same origin. This anomaly occurred sometime in the late 16th century when the people along the banks of the Pearl River in Canton China, created the mother of pearl gaming counter. Astoundingly these creations have not been equaled even with today's modern technology.
The chemical, physical and structural makeup of the mother of pearl is identical to their namesake the beautiful pearl. The substance of creation is called nacre, a crystallized mineral compound formed on the inner shell of certain mollusks. The genius of these Chinese people was to create flat uniform slabs from the contorted shell of a mollusk with etched designs appealing to the Chinese culture.
When the Emperor opened trade with outside countries these beautiful little objects of art began distribution to a new culture and the path of development of the gaming counter chips we know today. Mother of pearl counters are classified into two distinct groups armorial and non-armorial.
Armorial and Non-Armorial Counters
Armorial and Non-Armorial Counters
Armorial and Non-Armorial Counters
Mother of pearl counters are classified into two distinct groups: armorial and non-armorial. When the wealthy Europeans and the British were first exposed to these counters, they immediately saw the possibility of using them as counters for various card games. They altered them by adding the family crest or coat of arms to one side identi
Mother of pearl counters are classified into two distinct groups: armorial and non-armorial. When the wealthy Europeans and the British were first exposed to these counters, they immediately saw the possibility of using them as counters for various card games. They altered them by adding the family crest or coat of arms to one side identifying them to the family history. These became known as armorial or bearing a particular coat of arms. The games played dictated that the chips be produced in sets of 140 pieces of 3 basic shapes. All bearing a certain value when used in the games.
Armorial counters would be ordered in England or Europe with their specifications and given to a merchant. This often would include a family coat of arms or initials of the family patriarch. This individual would then make a contract with a sea Captain of the East India Trading Company, who in turn would sail halfway around the world to Canton, Chine. There, another agent would take this order to some of the porrest factories in the world along the Canton River and convey the original desire to the manufacturers. It likely took up to two years for the order to be delivered. From the poorest to the riches, these chips saw an immense increase in value as they sold for many thousands of today's dollars to he original family patriarch. Armorial counters today command the highest prices as they were produces with the finest mother of pearl and designed by only the most qualified Chinese artists and are the rarest in todays' world.
Non-armorial counters were the most common. Many of these generic counters were created with the same delicacy and beauty as the more distinct sisters. However, as one can imagine there were also many counters of inferior quality.
Our promise to the patrons of Imua East. We will always strive to obtain the finest counters available. Every counter is washed, disinfected, repolished and treated before it is used for resale. Conservatively, only one out of perhaps 100 counters are even considered for jewelry grade use.
Time periods
Armorial and Non-Armorial Counters
Time periods
The counters we carry were made during the time period of 1720-1840. This was during the Qing dynasty.
Estimated time periods our counters were created. These estimates are based on the time period these counters would have arrived to Europe.
Fish - 1730
Round Floral - 1740
Rectangular - 1750
Tear Drop - 1760
Round Pagoda - 1790
Square - 1800
Fretted - 1820
Armorial LH - 1820
