Antique Mother-of-Pearl Fish Gaming Counters

Four antique mother-of-pearl gaming counters, each hand-carved in the form of a fish and delicately engraved with scales, fins, and a circular vignette featuring birds and landscape motifs.

These pieces date to the late 19th–early 20th century, when mother-of-pearl counters were used in parlor games, tallying, or as novelty markers. Fish motifs were especially popular in export-era pieces, symbolizing abundance and good fortune.

Cut from genuine shell, each counter displays natural iridescence and subtle variations in tone, A hallmark of authentic mother-of-pearl and hand craftsmanship. Today, they are equally beautiful used as decorative objects, tabletop accents, or collectibles, and they style wonderfully in bowls, trays, or cabinets of curiosities.

Details

• Era: Antique, c. 1880–1910

• Material: Genuine mother-of-pearl

• Sold individually

• Condition: Very good antique condition with light, age-appropriate wear and natural variations in shell.

• Use: Gaming counters, tally markers, or decorative accents