Pearls - Image Gallery

Pearl Jewelry from India and China
With pearls so abundant in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Mannar, India has a long history of using pearls. For Hindus, the pearl is one of the planetary gems, associated with the moon and second only to the diamond in esteem.

Pearls became especially popular in China during the Manchu dynasty (1644-1911). In theory, the emperor himself was supposed to use pearls only from freshwater mussels in Manchuria, the dynasty’s homeland.

“A cloud pearl is so priceless that the entire earth, with her oceans filled with countless jewels and covered in layers of gold, would not be equal in value.”

Garuda-Purana, 1000 B.C.

continue thru the Image Gallery

	Pearls Home \| Pearls Exhibition \| Making Pearls \| Saving Pearls \| Field Museum Research \| Pearls of the Midwest \| Fun Facts \| Image Gallery \| Credits \| Field Museum Home
	© 2007 The Field Museum, All Rights Reserved 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605-2496 312.922.9410 Copyright Information \| Linking Policy © The Field Museum, A82242. Photo by Mark Widhalm. © The Field Museum, A82205. Photo by Pam Gaible. © The Field Museum, A254274. Photo by Mark Widhalm.	Technical Support webmaster@fieldmuseum.org