Sculpted Pearls

[effisk]

Hi everyone,

I went to the "foire de Paris" yesterday. it is a trade fair where all kinds of businesses can have their booths.

There was a few booths of jewels made of Tahiti pearls. One of them was showing pendants with sculpted pearls.

The pearls are sculpted with tribal designs (similar to Tahitian tattoos) fot most of them (there was only a handful of them). When looking closely, I could see that the white nucleus was visible in some places where the engraving was too deep.

I was not allowed to make any photos.

I found the idea interesting - you obviously want to use the pearls that don't have a perfect surface. I'm a bit perplex regarding the resistance of such pearls over time though.

The shop attendants told me the sculptures where made by an artist from the Marquises islands.

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi FX,

This type of work is really more typical for the Cook Islands. I have 3 that are expertly done (15x13mm drop), one I gave set as a pendant to my son and 2 (one closer to 9mm and 1 about 10mm both fully round) I still have. I got mine from Jerehmias on eBay, the bigger for about US$150 and the smaller for US$50 each. None has the carving penetrating to the nucleus and none is otherwise blemished. My assumption was that the carving was not done to remove blemishes but rather to add value to pearls with otherwise not very attractive colors. I happen to like the ones I got and I certainly paid a fair price for them. They were by no means bargains.

Zeide

[Kevin Canning]

I have seen these before too and the definatly are interesting. Does anybody have a pic they can post for other forum members that haven't seen a carved pearl?

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Kevin,

Since my hubby's digital camera seems to make pearls look much darker than they are you have make do with some links:

http://www.tokeraujim.com/carved.pearls.html
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/s/lot-652364.html

Zeide

[purepearls]

These carved pearls are really popular in Hawaii, specifically Maui. Many of the jewelry stores there carry these carved pearls in pendants or earrings. I think some are absolutely amazing. The intricate work that can be done on such a small object really is fascinating.

[kojimapearl]

I just got this lot of carved pearls in today... and I can't stop taking photographs of them!
12-13mm round and many in "fancy" colors.
It has been a while since I have seen really nice carving on pearls... these are not the best I have seen.. but it SO exciting to have a whole bunch of them to play with!
Happy as a clam here in Oakland this sunny Tuesday!
Cheers pearl people!

[Heidi]

Wow - what great timing I have to pop in here right now and see these. So cool! Thanks for sharing the photos. Those are lovely colors.

[pattye]

Sarah,

Those are fascinating! Seems like I should be able to pluck one right out of the photo! (Or maybe two------)

[Caitlin]

They are Lovely. Would you mind sharing a retail price? I would love to know the ballpark retail figure. This is another one I think would look great on an interchangeable cliclasp.

[kojimapearl]

UUUUHHHHH..... I don't want to get busted for advertising, ( I try really hard to be "un-tacky" here).. but if the great Caitlin asks... then I shall submit!
They should probably retail for between $150-$200, dependent on the colors.
It is a really beautiful lot. There are a lot of deep black pearls but even those are lusterous, and the lighter colors are really special.

[Marianne]

Really beautiful Sarah. How do they accomplish such detail?
Playing with pearls is happy making for sure
Marianne

[kojimapearl]

Honestly ... when I first saw them .. I thought they must be "laser" cut. The supplier swore they were hand done, which would be much more likely considering the Polynesian tradition of carving pearls. I really can't say that I am educated enough on carving to say one way or the other. I just said... "Gimme!"
Yes it has been a great pearl day here!

[Caitlin]

UUUUHHHHH..... I don't want to get busted for advertising, ( I try really hard to be "un-tacky" here).. but if the great Caitlin asks... then I shall submit!
They should probably retail for between $150-$200, dependent on the colors.
It is a really beautiful lot. There are a lot of deep black pearls but even those are lusterous, and the lighter colors are really special.

You most certainly were not advertising and I am not buying. These are new to me and I was curious what they go for in general- and as compared to Galatia, for instance. I am just dreaming.......maybe some day it will become a plan. Something like this looks more attainable than something from Galatea.

[purlgurl]

I thought they must be "laser" cut. The supplier swore they were hand done, which would be much more likely considering the Polynesian tradition of carving pearls. I really can't say that I am educated enough on carving to say one way or the other. I just said... "Gimme!"
Yes it has been a great pearl day here!

I can see the appeal, I agree, Gimme!
The carving has the same look as created with a dremmel, with a burr, the rounded ends on each line look like that. Never the less, I would consider that hand done, as each pearl would be carved individually.

[CortezPearls]

Thank you Kojima for sharing these photos... I needed to explain "carved pearls" to someone that had never seen them before (I had... but at most gem shows you can't take photos...). These are great pics!
BTW... if you have some faceted pearls photos stored away do share them
Please!