Hi Tim,

Where do you want to start?

Here are a few ideas.... Hope they are of some help.

There are Pliny's writings.

Then we have Caligula who loved his horse so much he gave him pearls (to wear).

The famous tale of Cleopatra dissolving pearls in vinegar for a dinner bet with Anthony (very short version).

Richard Burton, once gave Elizabeth Taylor the Pearl named La Peregrina (also known as "the Wanderer", once owned by Mary Queen of Scots) it fell off her necklace and she found it in her dogs mouth (also very short Version)

Lets see, there is a 14th Century poem about pearls I think it’s allegorical and possibly a 16th Century one, (I have not been able to verify for myself, still looking.)

A really good book to get your hands on is by George Frederick Kunz, called The Book of the Pearl by ISBN:0-486-42276-3 (Dover Pub) There is a plethora of Information in that book in regards to history.

The carpet of Baroda that is encrusted with Pearls and other precious gemstones.

Early Chinese myth:

When dragons fight pearls fall from the sky, told of pearls falling from the sky when dragons fought.

Greeks believed that wearing pearls would bring about marital bliss

The hope pearl was owned by yes that is right Phillip (Henry) Hope the same man who owned the Hope Diamond (how lucky can he really be?)

JAMON PEARL OF JAPAN- the worlds oldest Extant pearl dating back 5500 years

This one is fuzzy and not sure but I believe it originated in Arab lands.

Another legend says that pearls were thought to be dew from the moon and the Oysters would go up and "eat or Kiss" these drops which would turn into pearls

There was also a Sassanid king who threw his beloved pearl in the mud rather than have it taken in battle.

throughout history in about every culture there is some kind of reference to Pearls even in the Americas with the temple of Talomeco. And Burial mounds that reveal pearls being buried. Recently there have been Viking grave digs in which some of the Beads recovered were actually pearls not just lamp work glass beads.


I am not at home right now. that is all I can think of off the top of my head. Hope this helps out.

Good Luck!

Cheers
Ash