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Pearls | Freshwater Pearls | Tahitian Southsea Pearls | Famous Pearls



The Most Important Literature on Pearls

George Frederick Kunz: the Book of the Pearl : covers all topics on Pearls, from creation, farming, artificial, cultured etc. Still the major standard work of Pearls.
 
The second MUST READ on Pearls is Edwin Streeter who manned, sailed a vessel himself to dive for pearls. Catelle also wrote a classic on Pearls.
Other works dedicating a chapter on Pearls written by famous gemologists of the time: Oliver Farrington on Pearls and Louis Feuchtwanger treatise on Pearls.

 

Further Pearl Reading

History of the Pearl in Antiquity (C. King)
Shakespeare and Pearls, reflecting its great popularity in the 16th and 17th century


"Freshwater Pearls" in Antique Pearl Necklaces:
Where do they come from ?

Mississippi. Read George Frederick Kunz's overview.
Catelle writes about the value and appreciation of Freshwater Pearls in the 19th century

 

Pearls - References before 1700

Greek Philosospher (pupil of Aristotle) Theophrastus on Pearls and modern commentary
 10th century Persian Scientist Al-Biruni on Pearls
Albertus Magnus
Tavernier's Pearls (Moguls, French Emperor and Pearl origins)

First systematic work (Nicols) on Pearls (1652)
Chapuzeau (1600's) on Pearls

Pearl Farming | Fishing | Diving

Pearl Mythology, Medicine and Talismans

Pearls as Celestial Dew, Oyster Eggs... what else ?

 

Outside sources

Wikipedia has a long article on Pearls.

 

19th Century Best Practices