Hello Everyone there !

I just collected about a thousand photos in european museums, mostly french ones, to illustrate a jewelry course, and I took some specific picts about pearls (not of excellent quality for interesting, I hope so) ;
to illustrate the fantastic Caitlin 's "Pearls in History" that figures left of the PG site.

I have avoided the most wellknown for more fun and shall start a "how old is this pearl" game with you all.
Ready now?

So let's go and refer to Caitlin' story at left of page.

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Though pearls have been found in fossil mollusks as old as 50 millions years old (see here) ;
http://www.cliclasp.com/priv-pages/p...is_2007_1.html

at the beginning of human jewelry story, were the shell, not the pearl yet,

So how old is this one ? and where does this necklace come from ? (the country from, not the museum...)
Start playing

[La Contessa]

I'll bite - And, I hope I do not insult anyone with my totally out there guess.

Seeing the nylon thread...Hawaii and 21st century.

(BTW - I adore your clever jewelry - already planning something from you for an anniversary present.)

You are very very far , many many centuries ago
I would not have cheated you that way !!

keep in mind that when old jewelry is found, they are displayed in museum with a contemporary restringing, most of the time

But what we can notice if that old shapes, combinations and ideas remain active up today in many many places

So play again ?

[Caitlin]

A couple of wild guesses. 3-5 thousand years old and from the Gulf or maybe an Egyptian tomb.

I read a story recently about very ancient shells from Africa found 300 miles inland!

Shells were also in use as adornments by the Anasazi in Northern AZ from acros the width od CA. I think some have been found that are a thousand years old. White shell, abalone and a couple other color shells are revered to this day and are associated with the four directions among Navajos

[La Contessa]

I think I might want to side with Caitlin

I know that East Indies and India and the Native Americans all used shells for money, especially cowrie shells.

[La Contessa]

You may have to tell us!

[La Contessa]

not cowrie not trochus

[La Contessa]

Okay - white shell - White Mauratania Conus Shell???? Give me a hint

So you were very close !
Though the jewelry story starts as old as Caitlin mentioned, I decided not to be too close to chronology to make the game a bit more difficult = more funny
Att where it was found

Said to be about -1300 -1150 bef Ch. old
found in Meskéné at the recent bronze age
Shells as ornament, though it was also used as money till XIX century in some places.

Next
still shells, wait a little bit to see old pearls,
time for human beings to find some

So,how old are these ones and where was it found?
Enjoy the beauty and skill of makers!!

Play again

It seems that the oldest shell ornament is 100,000 years old.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13483253/

CliClasp, from Crete? Greece?

Yes , That's what history teaches us !
I am focusing on pearls and pre-pearl jewelry photos, so shells
I have pictured loose shells as ornament as well, but wanted to show rings and bracelet for a change

So you think they are from Crete? Greece?
No a little bit easter

try again !!

[La Contessa]

Guess: 550 B.C. carved shell from Fiji?????

Hello

Much older
Not so far east..
play again !

[La Contessa]

: 0 I'm on the hunt!