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FAMOUS PEARLS AND COLLECTIONS 463
The
owner of La Pellegrina in 1818, Z. P. Zozima, died in Moscow at a great
age, in 1827. He was a Greek dealer in curiosities and gems, who had
resided in Moscow for a long time, and had many clients among the
nobility of Russia. It is stated that a few months before his death the
best pieces of his collection, including La Pellegrina, were stolen
from him by a compatriot.
Moscow Pearl, 1840.
The German traveler, Johann Georg Kohl (ι808-1878), in the account of
his travels in Russia, relates an interesting incident connected with
a beautiful pearl in the Imperial Treasury. Shortly previous to 1840,
a rich Moscow merchant died in a convent, whither he had retreated
after the manner of the wealthy pious ones of his nation. Feeling the
approach of age, he had given up the toils of business to his sons. His
wife was dead, and the only beloved object which even in the cloister
was not separated from him was a large, beautiful, oriental pearl. This
precious object had been purchased for him by some Persian or Arabian
friend at a high price, and, enchanted by its water, magnificent size,
and color, its perfect shape and luster, he would never part with it,
however enormous the sum offered. He himself inhabited an ordinary cell
in the convent; but this object of his love reposed on silk in a golden
casket. It was shown to few persons, and favorable circumstances and
strong recommendations were necessary to obtain such a favor. A Moscow
resident reported the style and manner of the ceremony. On the
appointed day he went with his friends to the convent, and found the
old gentleman awaiting his guests in his holiday clothes. Their
reception had something of solemnity about it. The old man went into
his cell and brought out the casket in its rich covering. He spread
white satin on the table, and, unlocking the casket, let the precious
pearl roll out before the enchanted eyes of the spectators. No one
ventured to touch it, but all burst into acclamations, and the old
man's eyes gleamed like his pearl. After a short time it was returned
to the casket. During his last illness, the old gentleman never let the
pearl out of his hand, and after his death it was with difficulty taken
from his stiffened fingers.
There
seems to be a great similarity between the description of this pearl
and that of La Pellegrina, although we have been unable to verify our
surmise as to their identity.
The Hope Pearl. In
the first half of the last century, Henry Philip Hope, a London banker,
brought together a great collection of gems, among which were many
pearls. The most famous of these was the often-described Hope pearl,
one of the largest known; the value of
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