Coral

Coral is the skeletal remains of marine animals, related to anemones. As the animals eat they secrete the calcium waste and more coral branches form.

Coral grows very slowly and is mimicked by many different substances from stained vegetable ivory, rubber mixtures, stained bone, porcelain, glass and plastic.

The most valuable coral colour is red, found round the African and Italian Mediterranean coasts and Malaysian and Japanese waters. Black and gold coral are found at Hawaii, Australia and the West Indies.

Traditionally given as a gift to infants, found on many a Victorian teething ring, coral beads have long been associated with religion, crafted into rosaries in the Middle Ages, many Medieval portraits show the Christ Child clutching a strand of coral beads.