The development of plastics over the last hundred years has led to the availability of alternatives to ivory and tortoiseshell. Made from acetates, cast polyesters and acrylics they come in sheet, rod or bar form. Acetate tortoiseshell at 0.5mm thick works very well with brass to replicate Boulle work. As yet we have not found a source of faux ivory thinner than 3mm but this can be "linished" to a more workable thickness. We are also looking into the use of vegetable ivory which comes from the endosperm of the tagua palm.

Mother of pearl and other shells such as abalone, green snail and black lipped oyster are generally available at 1mm-3mm. We have recently found a source of laminated shell sheets 240mm x 140mm x 0.1mm which are available in a variety of colours which can be easily hand or laser cut.