It is thought that natural pearls form under a set of accidental conditions when a microscopic intruder or parasite enters a bivalve mollusc and settles inside the shell. The mollusc, irritated by the intruder, forms a pearl sac of external mantle tissue cells and secretes the calcium carbonate and conchiolin to cover the irritant. This secretion process is repeated many times, thus producing a pearl. Natural pearls come in many shapes, with perfectly round ones being comparatively rare. In general, cultured pearls are less valuable than natural pearls, whereas imitation pearls have almost no value. Cultured freshwater pearls can often be confused for natural pearls Cultured pearls are the response of the shell to a tissue implant. A tiny piece of mantle tissue (called a graft) from a donor shell is transplanted into a recipient shell, causing a pearl sac to form into which the tissue precipitates calcium carbonate. Some imitation pearls (also called shell pearls) are simply made of mother-of-pearl, coral or conch shell A strand of pearls called a princess length, 43 to 48 cm in length, comes down to or just below the collarbone. A graduated strand of pearls most often has at least 3 mm of differentiation from the ends to the centre of the necklace. A lady's pearl necklace and 1 earring in a hinged, lined, cream Bakelite case .jewellery, necklace, earring, pearls, market gardners, early settlers, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, ormond

In the 17th century young girls were taught embroidery as a necessary skill for marriage, this also helped them make very beautiful handbags. By the late 18th century, fashions in Europe were moving towards a slender shape and women wanted purses that would not be bulky or untidy in appearance, so reticules were designed. Reticules were made of fine fabrics like silk and velvet, with wrist strapA lady's beige, beaded, silk lined, evening bag with press stud fastenerevening wear, purses, personal effects, handbags, fashion, needlework, craftwork, dressmaking, moorabbin, brighton, early settlers, pioneers, cheltenham

Typical day wear hand made dilly bag used by women in the early settler families of Moorabbin Shire c1910 Dilly bags The family of Nance Blackburn were early settlers. Typical day wear dilly bag used by women in the early settler families of Moorabbin Shire c1910 The family of Nance Blackburn were early settlersClothing, Lady's black serge dilly bag lined with jap silk and with a drawstring blackburn nance, early settlers, moorabbin, cheltenham, bentleigh clothing, dressmaking, moorabbin shire, hand bags, utility bags, dilly bags

Handle Weld line Weld Splodge Rusted holes in bottom of bucket (2)

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large photograph collection dating from the mid-nineteenth century to the last decadeBlack and white photograph of a line of Moonah trees near a shoreline with a paddock in the foreground. Catalogue number written in pencil on reverse. churchill island

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century to the present. Black and white photograph with white border of a line of trees beside the inlet shoreline.Catalogue number written on reverse in pencilchurchill island

Black and white photgraph of the placings at the line of the Bendigo Cup Consulation. Nos. 7,1,4.clubs and associations, sport, greyhound racing

An invitation to a staff social function.One page photocopied 'memorandum'. Black on white paper, includes line drawing."All staff are invited to attend the Roy Heywood fridge social club, every Friday in the Cramer St. Staffroom. The food id free. The drinks you pay for."preston technical school, pts, staff, nmit,

Exercise Book (blank) - gold lettering on black background. Line and columns ruled.document

Olive green fibreglass lined helmet with earphones and microphone used by dustoff medicGentex Corporation; 8415-144-4981flight helmet, virtue 2793109, 8th field ambulance

A faded blue covered book with 70 lined pages and a darker blue bindingaustralia - armed forces - service manuals, 1st australian field hospital

Book covered with board and printed with the school name and logo. Lined paper inside.williamstown high school, 1950s, exercise book

This coat was part of the regalia belonging to Reverend Dr Alan C Watson Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia 1959 - 1962.Black wool, lined coat with a crew neck and six black covered buttonspresbyterian moderator, rev dr alan watson

Display book with text, coloured photos, historical photcopies, time line, etc.colour photographs, games, newspaper clippingswathaurong, curriculum development, koori life and customs, primary school education, secondary school education, victorian history, geelong history

Offering Plate circa 1890s. The decorated plate features a carved Scottish thistle and turned handle. These were used in the 19th century and hung on pegs at the back of the church when not in use. Velvet lined wooden offering plate with turned handle. Features a carved thistle. offering plate

Series of photographs loaned for copying by Robert Collier through Keith Rooney. Photographs have been scanned by Ted Arrowsmith at 300dpi as a 'tiff' and burnt onto a CD Rom. copies of photographs were produced from the CD Rom for inclusion in the album.Black and white photograph of Tunstall Hall north of the railway line in Springvale Road.tunstall hall, tunstall

Cream wool crochet baby bonnet lined with cotton.. ribbon ties at neckcostume, infants'

Rev. Watts in groupPhotograph of a group of men, seated & standing, with line of dead hares. Mounted. Unframed."Hare Drive For / Hospital / Front Row Includes / Les Gillman / Rutherglen Estates Pty Ltd / Walter McRae / Frank Fuge, etc."hare drive, les gillman, walter mcrae, frank fuge