How old is this pearl ? Play again !

[CLICLASP]

Hello Everyone there !

I just collected about a thousand photos in european museums, mostly french ones, to illustrate a jewelry course, and I took some specific picts about pearls (not of excellent quality for interesting, I hope so) ;
to illustrate the fantastic Caitlin 's "Pearls in History" that figures left of the PG site.

I have avoided the most wellknown for more fun and shall start a "how old is this pearl" game with you all.
Ready now?

So let's go and refer to Caitlin' story at left of page.

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Though pearls have been found in fossil mollusks as old as 50 millions years old (see here) ;
http://www.cliclasp.com/priv-pages/pearl_exhibition_paris_2007_1.html

at the beginning of human jewelry story, were the shell, not the pearl yet,

So how old is this one ? and where does this necklace come from ? (the country from, not the museum...)
Start playing

 

[La Contessa]

I'll bite - And, I hope I do not insult anyone with my totally out there guess.

Seeing the nylon thread...Hawaii and 21st century.

(BTW - I adore your clever jewelry - already planning something from you for an anniversary present.)

 

[CLICLASP]

You are very very far , many many centuries ago
I would not have cheated you that way !!

keep in mind that when old jewelry is found, they are displayed in museum with a contemporary restringing, most of the time

But what we can notice if that old shapes, combinations and ideas remain active up today in many many places

So play again ?

 

[Caitlin]

A couple of wild guesses. 3-5 thousand years old and from the Gulf or maybe an Egyptian tomb.

I read a story recently about very ancient shells from Africa found 300 miles inland!

Shells were also in use as adornments by the Anasazi in Northern AZ from acros the width od CA. I think some have been found that are a thousand years old. White shell, abalone and a couple other color shells are revered to this day and are associated with the four directions among Navajos

 

[La Contessa]

I think I might want to side with Caitlin

I know that East Indies and India and the Native Americans all used shells for money, especially cowrie shells.

 

[La Contessa]

You may have to tell us!

 

[La Contessa]

not cowrie not trochus

 

[La Contessa]

Okay - white shell - White Mauratania Conus Shell???? Give me a hint

 

[CLICLASP]

So you were very close !
Though the jewelry story starts as old as Caitlin mentioned, I decided not to be too close to chronology to make the game a bit more difficult = more funny
Att where it was found

Said to be about -1300 -1150 bef Ch. old
found in Mesk?n? at the recent bronze age
Shells as ornament, though it was also used as money till XIX century in some places.

 

[CLICLASP]

Next
still shells, wait a little bit to see old pearls,
time for human beings to find some

So,how old are these ones and where was it found?
Enjoy the beauty and skill of makers!!

Play again

 

[nlerner]

It seems that the oldest shell ornament is 100,000 years old.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13483253/

CliClasp, from Crete? Greece?

 

[CLICLASP]

Yes , That's what history teaches us !
I am focusing on pearls and pre-pearl jewelry photos, so shells
I have pictured loose shells as ornament as well, but wanted to show rings and bracelet for a change

So you think they are from Crete? Greece?
No a little bit easter

try again !!

 

[La Contessa]

Guess: 550 B.C. carved shell from Fiji?????

 

[CLICLASP]

Hello

Much older
Not so far east..
play again !

 

[La Contessa]

: 0 I'm on the hunt!

 

[CLICLASP]

Would it be too hot that you don't find ? like here in Paris,
So here is where it was found
Which one is older ? bracelet or rings ?

 

[Caitlin]

I am having trouble imagining how they got the bracelet out of a shell. It is so thick. So maybe the rings are older. I've been wrong so far, but I'll keep trying!
What kind of shells are they? Some kind of sea snail?

 

[CLICLASP]

So the bracelet is .......a Fasciolaria Trapezium or a Xancus Pyrum found in 1908
said to be Suse importations -2600 to -1700 BC

and the rings are from Medio Assyrians, Mari civilisation
said to be as old as XIII to XII s BC
so more recent.

Did you notice the lovely geometrical pattern?

Now the last shell necklace to show, then I promise an antique pearl

Several strands, in between pendants of all shapes (crescent , fishes)
and material : white and pink calcarea (limestone said my dictionary), nacre and the bigger dark pieces are schist.

isn't interesting and very creative, still valid for today !

How old is this one? younger or older than bracelet and rings?
play again

 

[jerin]

The pattern looks like greek or roman. As to age I have no idea whatsoever. They are beautiful.

I am talking about the rings, not the bracelet!

 

[CLICLASP]

So neither Greek nor Roman, but from Iran, Suse and around (see map above)

but I'll post some later on ... keep checking

the answer is by order of age :

1 - necklace : said to be -3300 to - 3100 BC, found in 1929, from Uruk, Suse

2 - bracelet : -2600 to -1700 BC found in 1908 in Suse (Fasciolaria Trapezium or a Xancus Pyrum shell)

3 - rings : said to be as old as XIII to XII s BC, from Medio Assyrians, Mari civilisation

That's what Caitlin tells us in History of pearls :
Pearl History of Persia

Pearls from the Gulf of Persia have been known for at least 2,700 years, not through the written word, but sculptures and coins. The gulf pearl beds were arguably the oldest, and largest, ever known. There was no other place in the world where pearl oysters grew more and better pearls, or where it was possible to dive for pearls in more places, than in the relatively warm, shallow waters of the Persian Gulf, with its many fresh water springs. Possibly the oldest pearl necklace still in existence comes from ancient Persia, from a 2,400 year old Queen's tomb. Known as the Susa necklace, it has 3 rows of 72 pearls each, held with spacer bars. This design is one of the oldest pearl necklace styles. The Susa necklace has been shown in the Louvre’s Persian gallery, for over 100 years.

Now at last here are the pearls, see the delicate gold work and mixing with stones

Where is this jewel from and how old is it ?
Still on the hunt ?