Mystery Vintage Freshwater Pearls

[hbyrne]

Hello Pearly Peeps!

It’s a while since I’ve posted here (as usual always asking for advice with some curiosity I’ve found) so hoping that someone more experienced

here can offer information on the vintage lilac hued (supposed) FWP in this pic. Came threaded with some graduated saltwater and a graduated row of mini Sapphires, with a hand made diamond set clasp.

They range from 2mm-3.5mm graduated. I’ve broken a couple with re threading and they’re gritty black inside.

Thank you in anticipation…
Helen

 

[StarryPearl]

How do you know they are FWP? I feel like the white are Akoyas and the other strand Akoya keshis. Waiting for others' opinion.

Very interesting pic of the inside, reminding me of when I lost my first tooth decades ago . Thanks for sharing!

 

[hbyrne]

Thank you Starry Pearl… good point, i was just assuming FWP as they remind me of the Japanese rice Pearls. They def have some age; I work w antique jewellery and always home in on old Pearls w a fancy clasp…

Love your comment about rotten teeth

 

[pattye]

Helen, I keep coming back to look at your fascinating small pearls. The large amount of "matter" makes me think this is a small natural pearl. One where the parasite that bored through the oyster shell wasn't completely absorbed. Perhaps the other pearls are the same? Although the lilac color might be more indicative of fwp, I just feel these are more likely to be saltwater. Seems like it would take a long time to collect this many small pearls. Oh, the clasp is lovely, too! Do you ever have any of your pearls tested? Having the broken pieces would make it fairly easy or maybe not worth the trouble? Thanks so much for sharing.

Hope we get some additional imput!

 

[SteveM]

Were there any significant early attempts at tissue nucleation of Akoya?

 

[hbyrne]

Helen, I keep coming back to look at your fascinating small pearls. The large amount of "matter" makes me think this is a small natural pearl. One where the parasite that bored through the oyster shell wasn't completely absorbed. Perhaps the other pearls are the same? Although the lilac color might be more indicative of fwp, I just feel these are more likely to be saltwater. Seems like it would take a long time to collect this many small pearls. Oh, the clasp is lovely, too! Do you ever have any of your pearls tested? Having the broken pieces would make it fairly easy or maybe not worth the trouble? Thanks so much for sharing.

Hope we get some additional imput!

Thank you for your input Pattye!

Don't you wish you could time travel sometimes to see what went on? It would be so interesting!

Well, i broke three and all three are the same with gritty dark material inside.. plus lotsa neck slime (eurgh!) through the drill hole. You don't think a tissue nucleation would turn to this?

Yes, i do get them tested and have been quite lucky with finding old strands of small-ish naturals and will send some others I have soon so perhaps that's the answer. I've messaged the lab to ask them what they need and what they might be able to tell.
these little lilac pearls are really outside of my admittedly very niche experience. Very confusing!

I'll keep updated on any new info,
Best wishes

 

[hbyrne]

Were there any significant early attempts at tissue nucleation of Akoya?

Hi Steve, this is an interesting line to investigate... thank you

 

[SteveM]

Hi Steve, this is an interesting line to investigate... thank you

Shall we add the possible presaging (in miniature, lacking nucleus extraction) of soufflé pearls?

It would be interesting to get a lab report done. If the nucleus material is similarly proportioned in all the pearls, they would not seem natural.

 

[hbyrne]

Shall we add the possible presaging (in miniature, lacking nucleus extraction) of soufflé pearls?

It would be interesting to get a lab report done. If the nucleus material is similarly proportioned in all the pearls, they would not seem natural.

Thank you, yes.... That's what I thought... how could they all be the same if they were natural?

An aside, but it sticks in my head...

I have read about the collection of seed Pearls in the Gulf of Mannar in the early 19th century. It was said that the Oysters could product great numbers of tiny natural Pearls 1-3mm and that they would be left to rot in barrels in order to make extraction of these tiny Pearls from the shells and body easier. These were drilled by hand in India, sewn to mother of pearl backings and threaded into multi-strand ropes and were popular worn as wedding jewellery.

I wonder why this would happen, as in the Oyster producing many small Pearls?

 

[SteveM]

Thank you, yes.... That's what I thought... how could they all be the same if they were natural?

An aside, but it sticks in my head...

I have read about the collection of seed Pearls in the Gulf of Mannar in the early 19th century. It was said that the Oysters could product great numbers of tiny natural Pearls 1-3mm and that they would be left to rot in barrels in order to make extraction of these tiny Pearls from the shells and body easier. These were drilled by hand in India, sewn to mother of pearl backings and threaded into multi-strand ropes and were popular worn as wedding jewellery.

I wonder why this would happen, as in the Oyster producing many small Pearls?

Many small pearls from many small oysters. Decomposition harvesting was generally practiced with the Pinctada Maculata (Pipi) on Penryhn/Tongareva in the Cook Islands, with India also as the primary market. The oyster beds on Penryhn, prominently mentioned in Kunz and other historic sources as an important source of natural pearls, are now depleted.

 

[hbyrne]

Many small pearls from many small oysters. Decomposition harvesting was generally practiced with the Pinctada Maculata (Pipi) on Penryhn/Tongareva in the Cook Islands, with India also as the primary market. The oyster beds on Penryhn, prominently mentioned in Kunz and other historic sources as an important source of natural pearls, are now depleted.

Thank you, so interesting. I need to do some more reading! I work in antique jewellery and so see numbers of these old Pearls