This handsome object is fashioned from a single, large bivalve mollusc shell, most likely the Gold-Lipped or Silver-Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada maxima). The artisan has skillfully worked the concave interior of the shell, polishing the nacreous surface to a high, opalescent lustre that displays a captivating play of light, with shifting hues of silver, cream, and subtle undertones of rose and green.

The overall form is a slightly irregular roundel, respecting the natural contours of the shell. The most striking feature is the meticulously decorated perimeter. The outer edge has been laboriously ground and filed into a continuous series of fine, V-shaped serrations, creating a delicate, saw-toothed effect. Running just inside this decorated edge is a double row of precisely drilled, circular perforations. These holes are remarkably uniform in size and spacing, attesting to the maker’s considerable skill and patience with rudimentary tools.

The surface of the shell is not entirely uniform; it bears the faint, linear striations from the polishing process, visible when the light catches the surface at an angle. It also retains natural features, including a prominent, undulating growth line that traverses the centre of the piece, adding a layer of organic history to the crafted object. The natural hinge, or umbo, of the shell has been retained at the base, forming a solid, smooth anchor point for the circular form. The object is a superb example of the transformation of a natural object into a powerful cultural symbol through deliberate and refined artistry.