I'm sure I've seen them on occasion, but I'd never really looked at a folk art mother of pearl shell carving of this sort before--and really what an amazing thing, all done by hand, quite a feat of labor and patience! Perhaps not surprisingly, fisherman were the most common subjects depicted on these, typically shown holding a net and facing away from the sea (toward the viewer), as if coming to shore in at the end of the day. But this much better-- this great woman in her bathing costume, perched on a rocky outcropping as if the queen of her own island, looking out. Maybe a siren of sorts, drawing that sailboat to shore, but I think more as if poised to take off on her own adventure!

 7" x 6 5/8". C. 1880s I believe. A couple of smooth losses along right edge of shell, but overall good condition, and an especially finely carved example, which is all the more dramatic held to light.