INDIGENOUS MATERIALS

CONVENTIONAL

CAPIZ
Definition
The bivalve shell of a mollusk (Placuna placenta) found
especially in the Philippines and having a smooth translucent
shiny interior.

History
Capiz shells were once a thriving precursor of glass, used to make sliding windows during the
Spanish occupation in the 19th century, which is why the Placuna Placenta mollusk is
nicknamed the “windowpane oyster”.

Philippine historians trace the popularity of capiz shells to the 1860 edition of “Vocabolario de la
lengua tagala”, the first dictionary of the Tagalog language. Within it, the entry for Capiz reads la
ventana. Window.

Characteristics
Physical Properties
 Thin, translucent, and flat shells.
 70 to 100mm in length.
 with a V-shaped ligament ridge showing near its hinge
 They are typically found in shades of white, cream, or beige, and their iridescence gives
them a pearlescent glow when viewed in sunlight or artificial light.
 Capiz shells have a smooth texture and are relatively easy to work with due to their
thinness.
Chemical Properties
 Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
 Organic protein matrix

Mechanical Properties
 Strength
 Durability

Application and Usage

Capiz shells are used as raw materials for home decoration and construction. They can be
made into beautiful handicrafts like window sills, lamp shades, flower vases, chandeliers,
chessboards, glass covers and coasters, wind chimes, wall panels, ashtrays, among others.
They can also be used for making animal glue, chalk, shellack, soldering lead, and paint.
Sample structures that used a capiz shell as a window.

“Bahay na Bato”

PEARLS
Definition
A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue
(specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another
animal, such as fossil conulariids.

History

Since ancient times, the pearl has endured as a symbol of unblemished perfection, and it
has inspired awe, appreciation, and wonder in those who behold it. The Latin word for
"pearl" is "margarita", which means "that which is precious or excellent". The name itself
represents the pearl's singular beauty.

The world's oldest pearl - the "Abu Dhabi Pearl" - dates back 8,000 years to the Neolithic
period and was discovered in 2017 on Marawah Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. Experts
believe that this pink pearl is proof that the early Neolithic people engaged in pearl trading.
It played an integral role in their daily activities and supported their livelihood.

For many centuries, pearls were considered one of the world's most precious natural
materials. Cultures from all over the world - including Romans, Egyptians, Chinese,
Indians, Greeks, and Europeans - have all assigned great value to pearls, which have been
given as gifts as early as 2300 BC. As an example, freshwater pearls from China’s Huai
River were the preferred gift for Chinese royalty.

Pearls were first worn as meaningful jewelry adornment as early as 420 BC. A sarcophagus
of a Persian princess now on display at the Louvre wears a fragment of pearl jewelry from
that early time. Pearl jewelry was also a major status symbol in Ancient Rome, so much so
that Julius Caesar passed a law prohibiting non-royals from wearing pearls. At the peak of
the Roman Empire, when the desire for pearls reached its height, the Roman general
Vitellius sold one of his mother’s pearl earrings and was able to use the money to finance
an entire military campaign. Fortunately, he won the battle. The Greeks also loved their
pearl jewelry, especially for weddings.

Types of Pearl
There are 2 primary types of pearls;

 Natural Pearl
 Cultured Pearl

Natural pearls refer to pearls that form in oysters or molluscs naturally when an irritant finds its
way into the creature. The animal then secretes layer after layer of nacre to combat the irritant,
which is how the pearl gradually forms. This is a time-consuming and slow process that can
take many years.

Cultured pearls refer to pearls that are acquired through farming and harvesting processes.
Here, ‘farmers’ raise the oysters or molluscs in pearl farms, in conditions similar to nature. The
main difference is that the irritant, or pearl nucleus, is carefully embedded into the creature by
humans and then the oyster is left to do its work. As in nature, the creature will coat the nucleus
with nacre, creating a beautiful pearl.

According to their source of origin, pearls, both natural and cultured, can be classified into two
categories: saltwater and freshwater pearls.

Saltwater pearl is formed within oysters that reside in oceans and are typically harvested in
regions such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, China, Japan, French Polynesia, and the
South Pacific Islands. These pearls are cultivated in volcanic atolls and protected lagoons.
While saltwater pearl takes longer to form, they possess superior lustre, indicating higher quality
compared to freshwater pearls. However, saltwater pearls tend to be more expensive and may
be less durable.
Saltwater pearls are encompassing three primary varieties, renowned for their superioir quality
compared to freshwater pearls. This distinction is evident in their increased demand and higher
price point. The three most prevalent types of saltwater pearls are Akoya pearls, South Sea
pearls, and Tahitan pearls.

1. Akoya Pearls
Akoya pearls are renowned for
their near-perfect spherical
shape and exceptional lustre.
Originating from the seas
surrounding Japan, China,
Korea, and Vietnam, they are
produced by small oysters
called Pinctada fucata, also
known as Akoya pearl oysters.

Akoya pearls exhibit highly desirable body colours such as white, grey, cream,
and blue, often accompanied by silver, pink, and green overtones. They range in
size from 2mm to 10mm, with a notable characteristic of being predominantly
round, although irregula-shaped Akoya pearls can be found.

2. South Sea Pearls

Regarded as the “Queen of
Pearls”. South Sea pearls stand
as one of the most coveted
varieties among all types of
pearls. Cultivated in regions suc
as Australia, the Philippines,
Myanmar (Burma), and
Indonesia, they are formed by
the Pinctada maxima oysters,
the largest pearl oysters in the
world.

South Sea pearls exhibit a stunning array of colours, predominantly in white and
golden hues, complemented by captivating overstonesof of pink, geen and blue.
Their sizes range from 8mm to 20mm, with an average size of 12mm.

Renowned for their satin-like lustre, graceful appearance, and impressive size,
South Sea pearls hold significant allure. It is worth noting that most of these
pearls possess irregular shapes, making perfectly spherical specimens
exceptionally rare and commanding exorbitant prices.
 3. Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian pearls are
highly regarded for
their captiviting array
of colours and
striking mirror-like
lustre. Originating
from French
Polynesia, they are
produced by the black-lipped Pinctada margaritifera oyster, exclusively found in
Tahiti and other islands of French Polynesia.

Tahitian pearls boast their inherent rarity as naturally dark gems. They exhibit
enchanting colours such as black, dark grey, charcoal, peacock green and
aubergine, adorned with shimmering silver, lavender, and blue overtones. Their
sizes typically range from 8mm to 14mm, although they can grow as large as
21mm.

Freshwater pearls are predominantly produced by

Hyriopsis cumingii mollusks, commnly known as triangle
shell mussels, thriving in lakes, rivers, ponds, and other
freshwater sources. Unlike saltwater cultured pearls,
most freshwater cultured pearls exhibit irregular shapes
such as oval, baroque, and semi-baroque.

Freshwater pearls commonly exhibit white and cream

body colours, accompanied by alluring overtones of pink,
cream, peach, and lavender. They are alos characterized by a shimmer of iridescent rainbow
colours.

Composition
Pearls are formed through a natural biological process within certain species of mollusks,
primarily oysters and mussels. The process begins when an irritant, such as a grain of sand or a
parasite, enters the soft tissue of the mollusk. In response to this foreign object, the mollusk’s
defense mechanism is triggered. The mollusk secretes a substance called nacre, also known as
mother-of-pearl, which is composed of alternating layers of aragonite (a crystalline form of
calcium carbonate) and conchiolin (an organic protein).
Characteristics
Physical Properties
 Pearl is not usually considered to be a crystal or stone. Gem would be a more accurate
description.
 They occur in various colors, measure from 2.6 -4.6 on the Mohs scale of hardness, and
are usually measured in pearl grains.

Chemical Properties
 Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3: 87-90%)
 Water (H2O: 2,5-3%)

How pearl extracted?

Pearl farmers must have immense patience to wait for a pearl inside an oyster shell to develop.
When a pearl in an oyster is ready, the harvester opens the shell, extracts the pearl and
evaluates it for quality. Some oysters can produce two to three pearls over the course of their
lifetime, but only an oyster with pearls of good quality will repeat the process of producing a
pearl.

Application and Usage

 primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past were also used to adorn clothing.
 used in cosmetics, medicines and paint formulations.

RATTAN
Definition
Rattan is made up of thin pliable stems of a palm
that originated in Southeast Asia.

History