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Service Center |
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Virtual Campus |
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In the early 1800's, Henry Philip Hope, a London banker, was a leading collector of gems. The Hope collection contained nearly 150 natural pearls, the best known of which was the Hope Pearl. In the early days of the collection, the pearl surpassed the more famous Hope Diamond in notoriety.
The large pearl is uniquely colored, with a dark bronze at the bottom of a drop shape, grading into white. It is believed that this pearl grew attached to the shell and was carefully removed and smoothed where it was separated from the shell.
After remaining in the Hope Jewel collection at a South Kensington Museum for many years, it was sold at auction by Christie's in 1886 and valued at more than $17,000 in 1913. Then in 1974, it was offered for private sale for $200,000 and purchased by H.E. Mohammed Mahdi Al-Tajir. It has since been sold and is the property of a private collector.
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Size: 51 x 114 mm
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| Weight: 1,800 grains (450 carats) |
| Lender: Christie's |
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© Christie's
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Based on the intricate bell cap setting with rose cut diamonds, this magnificent natural pearl from the Persian Gulf was likely set in the 19th century.
Little is known about its history, but its exceptional size and beauty suggest that it has had a storied past. According to some records, it is the sixth largest pearl.
This great pearl only recently came to market and was resold in London in 2004. It was named shortly thereafter by its new and proud owners. What is known about this large drop shape pearl is that it was suspended from a multi-row necklace as the center ornament, and worn that way by its previous owner for years.
Pearls such as this one inspired men, financed voyages, and incited the pearl market. It has been stated that the Persian Gulf fisheries were the most famous and most valuable waters in the world. At the height of production in the mid 19th century, it is reported that the Persian Gulf employed 4,300 boats and more than 30,000 men. These figures underscore the importance of pearls, and their role in adornment and in history.
| Size: 41.275 x 19.05 mm |
| Weight: 257.41 grains (64.35 carats) |
| Lender: Symbolic & Chase |
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© Symbolic & Chase
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This exceptionally large pearl that originated from the Persian Gulf has a long and colorful history similar to many of the other important gems permanently housed in the Smithsonian. According to many sources, this spectacular gem holds the illustrious title as "world's largest pearl."
Indian Emperor Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan: 1628-1658), who is well-known as the builder of the world renowned Taj Mahal, presented the Pearl of Asia to his beloved wife. It was also included in the many treasures that Nadir Shah, King of Persia (1688-1749), took at the siege of Delhi in 1739. It surpassed all of the other objects he took from India.
Nadir Shah gave the pearl to the Chinese Emperor Qianlong (1736-1769) when he came to the throne to help relations between the two most powerful Asiatic Empires. On Qianlong's death it was put in his tomb to pay his debt on his arrival to Hades. In 1900 the imperial grave was dug up by grave robbers who made their escape with the great pearl. It remained hidden for some time and then resurfaced in Hong Kong and was later sold in Paris. It is currently in a private collection in Europe.
| Size: 76 x 50 x 28 mm |
| Weight: 2,400 grains (600 carats) |
| Lender: Christie's |
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© Christie's
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