A type of pearlescent or iridescent shell, especially from certain sea snails, formerly used as an inlay material in furniture and decorative arts.
From Portuguese 'burgau', derived from French 'burgaudine', possibly originating from an Indian or Southeast Asian language reflecting trade in luxury materials via maritime routes.
Burgau shell was so valuable in 17th-century Europe that wealthy families embedded it in wooden furniture like jewels—it was basically the mother-of-pearl version of showing off your wealth.
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