Term for half developed pearls

[fractal]

I would greatly appreciate it if somebody could tell me the term, if there is one, for pearls that are 1/2 developed and still attached to the shell. They look like half a pearl set in mother of pearl and are set in a sterling, bib style necklace. There is a pronounced dome that is a bit larger than a pearl cut in half that is firmly part of the shell base.
Many thanks,
Betsy in Maine

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Betsy
It sounds like you are describing Mabe' pearls. Often they are pealed off the shell and filled with resin before setting in jewelry.
Sometimes the ones with bumps cut from the shell are called blister pearls.
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=blister+pearl&hl=en&sourceid=gd&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2006-15,GGLD:en

has some examples

 

[purepearls]

I agree with Caitlin. You are most likely talking about the Mabe pearl. Mabe pearls are great for setting in clasps and earring styles because of their half shape. They also are often seen in pendant styles. Here is an example of a Mabe pearl in an earring setting:
http://www.ross-simons.com/perl/rssh0001.cgi?DETAIL=JFEW 134307 CPP 4Y

 

[fractal]

Thanks so much! I just did a look-see on ebay and they are blister pearls. It always feels so nice to put the proper name on things! Your help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Fractal,

Although the industry has adopted the term "mab? pearl" to refer to glue filled pearly caps with mother of pearl backings from all kinds of host shells, the term actually refers to the Japanese word mab? gai that means pteria penguin scallop.
Zeide

 

[jshepherd]

Mabe-gai from the Pteria also called eboshi.

I think it is important to note that fractal was describing a blister pearl, not Mabe in the original post. A Mabe pearl is one cut from the shell and filled (in the current industry sense). A blister pearl is the same, except still attached to the shell.

 

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi Fractal & Jeremy,

Yes I understand that Fractal was describing something that sounds like a blister pearl but then called it half-developed. Blister pearls, however, are overdeveloped, if anything. A blister pearl typically forms when a whole pearl that developed in the mantle of the mussel is being incorporated into the shell after the pearl sac was injured or metabolically dissolved on the shell side. Sooner or later this is the fate of all pearls growing in the mantle covered by shell. Pearls growing in the soft tissue or in the lip are safe from this particular fate.

Zeide

 

[jshepherd]

I agree with you. But thinking of this from a layman's point of view, it looks like a half pearl, one that did not grow into a full round. Did you notice she wrote "half-developed, and still attached to the shell"? It was as though the pearl was expected to fully develop and detach from the shell.
Remember, pearls were once created by dew drops when the oysters were swimming at the surface with their mouths open!