[Valeria101]

There is little ambiguity about what this is - freshwater (nucleated? two of them fused?). But it sure is large: 30mm x 11mm! Now, the shape makes it more of a curio and the price hints at better cousins hiding somewhere. Sure wish it has better cousins somewhere!

Here's the thing: LINK

This forum has worked wonders for me so far, but there's still work for me to get comfortably confident about pearls. I hope you don't mind these posts of what seem unusual 'finds' to me.

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Ana,

If it weren't for the shape this would be a really nice pearl. However, given its shape I can only imagine one color worse than white for it. Maybe you can craft a big cap in rubies and diamonds for it to turn it into a toadstool pendant. That might work.

Zeide

[Valeria101]

Took a bit to figure out what did that frog do ...

But whichever way, it still is darn funny! Thanks!

[Caitlin]

I like the mushroom/toadstool idea. It would be perfectly in character for the pearl, which is too phallacious as it is . It is quite inexpensive for such a biggie.


The same people have another pearl that looks like it could become a baby Dumbo
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=200040543681

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Caitlin,

I just love the Elephant pin/pendant idea. It would fit perfectly in my collection.

This seller (http://www.carolyntyler.com/pendantsnpins3.html) seems to be right up my alley.

And this one is not half-bad either: http://www.hirschfelds.co.uk/Det/11666.htm


Although I would not buy new pearls from this outfit, their selection of antique pieces is quite worth seeing: http://www.langantiques.com/shop/pearljewelry.html

Zeide

[Valeria101]

Where's hiding modern jewelry design concerned with natural pearls? (at least pearls worth treating one at a time). The old ones turn up in the nicest Net corners... like this one. It looks like no natural pearl was ever too strange to be redeemed: what would be this lucky chunk without her snake?

I couldn't make a mushroom of that pearl, for the resulting size, it would end adorning my book shelves rather than myself

However, the little discussion around it might have just opened the proverbial box. For example, can you see an offspring of THIS with pearls instead?

[Ashley]

My Goodness!!! You guys sure have found some gorgeous treats to look at today! I think I'll have to bookmark the Lang's Antiques page to drool over periodically.
The pearl in the snake brooch that Valeria posted- that wouldn't be a clam pearl would it? It has that "brainy" very organic, freeform shape that I've come to associate with natural clams...

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by A.McNamara

The pearl in the snake brooch that Valeria posted- that wouldn't be a clam pearl would it? ...

My bad... I should have cited more form the source site - S.J. Phillips. They label it as "Mississippi pearl' and it does look like one to me. The size is enourmous!... but the shape not that uncommon: you may find smaller cousins among the freashwater pearls produced in the US today, although without size making such a specimen desirable, sellers may just keep them in the back of drawers and away from view.

If you like pretty pearl pictures, the respective site and address is really among the nicest - lots of old natural pearls on call, including some deadly items. The respective pin under the list of "19 century brooches" with the description:


"[inventory item] 23386 - Antique Mississippi pearl, diamond and gold snake brooch, American, circa 1890, the very baroque pearl wrapped round with a gold snake, the head set with a single diamond, the body engraved scales 30mm wide"

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Ana,

The design looks very unamerican to me. The combination of bowls or baskets with pearls and snakes is really a Dilmun (Bahraini) specialty. It makes no sense to Americans. Who would have done that?

Zeide

[Perle]

Have you seen forum member Wes Rankin's site (www.allnaturalpearls.com)? There are some natural pearl pins there - even one with a group of "mushrooms" - though I think I'd go for the fish brooch (reminds me somehow of the Hawaiian humuhumunukunukuapuaa).

Perle

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Zeide Erskine

Hi Ana,

The design looks very unamerican to me. The combination of bowls or baskets with pearls and snakes is really a Dilmun (Bahraini) specialty. It makes no sense to Americans. Who would have done that?

Zeide

There is no way to know on what the experts at S.J.Phillips based their note. There would have been plenty of snakes in jewelry around the time, although the shape of the pin stands out as much as the pearl itself does. Victorian symbols in jewelry are a bit of a mystery to me: the snake was supposed to have something to do with permanence and protection (i.e. coiled snake pins made as pre-marriage gifts, and very common snake-shaped rings), but then, who knows anymore?

On the other hand, while I have no reason to distrust the provenance ID from SJP, I have no idea what Bahraini jewelry looks like of any period at all. Wonder if they would have even considered such remote style references even if they are highly relevant! Interestingly, no other natural pearls have geographical provenance on SJP online (no surprise, when is that ever done...) while some examples are definitely intriguing! 'Hope they would welcome an inquiry about their pearl ID from an independent expert (you)... That snake aside, one of their most valuable pearl pieces, a five-strand necklace has an uncanny resemblance to your latest Ebay find.

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Ana,

The eBay find was an especially good contender for a natural because the color seemed to be nabatee (which is mostly appreciated in the Arab world), it was a 5-strand graduated of great water and orient with an unusual matching, size, and shape for cultured pearls, and it came from magicians. Five is a mystical number of magic in the Arab world and pearl gifts to female entertainers or wives of entertainers are a typical royal thing there.

Zeide

[Satine De La Courcel]

[quote=Valeria101]My bad... I should have cited more form the source site - S.J. Phillips.

If you like pretty pearl pictures, the respective site and address is really among the nicest - lots of old natural pearls on call, including some deadly items. The respective pin under the list of "19 century brooches" with the description:


What a FUN site..... , I am having fun looking at all the pretties and variations on earlier styles... .. Some of the 19th C stuff is really quite nice indeed!

Cheers
Ash

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi All,

I just found another strong contender for natural pearls on eBay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Estate-18k-White...QQcmdZViewItem Actually, it looks very much like Liz Taylors "tin cup" La Peregrina came on when Richard Burton bought it. The pearls are identified as Chinese freshwater, but the chain certainly looks like a Portugese-drilled strand of Goa naturals on wire.

Zeide

[Valeria101]

Those are perfect! THANK you! ...