Pearls: Long Term History, Legends and Lore

by - 9/17/2018 07:46:00 PM

Photo by Khairul Onggon from Pexels

Nicholas Paspaley began harvesting pearls near Australia in the 1930’s. In 1932, he found an exquisite natural pearl and hid it onboard. He went back to shore and basically stole the pearl. He sold it and bought his own pearl lugger and started his own business, which endured for over 80 years and became the harvester of the largest and most valuable of all natural South Sea pearls. He had the world’s biggest pearling fleet and shops of UK pearls across the country.  However, this success didn’t last.  Pearls became available in cheap and profusely cultivated or even plastic forms and became deeply unfashionable. 

In the past decade, pearls enjoyed a revival, from large South Sea cultured pearls to some historic natural pearls. Nature, science, and industry entered into their revival, with pearls becoming lustrous again and regaining popularity. This has brought a revival in UK pearls.

Many well-known people have helped the pearl regain its popularity. Mother-of-pearl has been used in jewelry for the past 100,000 years. Roman women were especially fond of the pearl, believing it symbolized beauty, purity, and fertility.

Elizabeth 1 wore them lavishly, symbolizing her chastity and her kingdom’s affluence. An early book, The Book of the Pearl, mentions an ancient belief that pearls were formed by dewdrops falling into clams.

A deal made with Pierre Cartier to give him a Fifth Avenue mansion in exchange for $100 and a necklace of 128 natural pearls, valued at $1M, which became Cartier’s first store.  “Coco” Chanel contributed to the pearl’s value in fashion by wearing several ropes of pearls in a variety of length, making them the haute couture in fashion. These pearls were a combination of natural, cultivated, or plastic.

Pearl Symbolism

The pearl is the recognized birthstone for June. It is also associated with June in being associated with weddings and brides. They have been associated with weddings, fertility, and love from early history.

White pearls are said to have been tears shed by the gods. One legend even attributes them to tears shed by Eve when she was banished from the Garden.

Even the Bible has legends related to pearls. Jesus commanded not to cast our pearls before swine, admonishing us to seek those who value the Gospel. He also tells a parable of the man who found a very valuable pearl and sold everything he had to go buy it.  We are also instructed to value pearls of wisdom.

Different myths abound, especially Chinese myths since they have had interest in pearls for the longest times. One such myth says that when dragons fought against clouds, pearls fell from the sky. Another myth says that oysters swallowed raindrops, forming pearls. Another myth says that a young boy found a pearl and placed it in a jar with just a bit of rice. The next day, the miraculous pearl had caused the jar to fill with rice. When neighbors tried to steal the miraculous pearl, the boy swallowed it, becoming a magical dragon. These are just a few of the myths associated with pearls.

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