Coral is akin to pearl in that it is also formed by marine creatures - various kinds of polyp - and consists mainly of lime. The polyps build branching structures in many fantastic shapes but only the 'noble' coral is widely used for ornament.
It comes from Mediterranean shores of North Africa and is fashioned into beads and all kinds of pendants, mainly in Italy, where it was - and in some regions still is - regardless as a protection against the 'evil eye'. It can be carved easily as it is pretty soft. Its colors vary from a soft white through all shades of pink to a deep red, the most highly prized color.
Much valued in the last century, it has greatly declined in popularity. Lime-free black coral is found and carved in the Far East. Red coral was well known to all ancient cultures. The name comes from the Greek korallion. Coral has been imitated in glass, porcelain and celluloid.
Coral is akin to 
