Historic School Trophies With Mother-of-Pearl Inlays: A Condition and Handling Checklist
Conservative care of a historic school trophy with mother-of-pearl inlay starts before you touch the object: photograph every inlay panel, note any loose edges, chips, or prior adhesive repairs, and check whether any insert has already separated. Support the whole trophy from below when you move it — never by the figurine or a projecting element — and keep metal-polishing products away from the shell surface entirely. If any inlay insert is loose, lifting, or detached, do not press it back or attempt a field repair; store the loose piece separately and refer the trophy to a conservator. A complete digital recognition record preserves the athletic achievement these trophies represent even when the physical object enters a conservation workflow.
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