So I won an auction and now I have questions!

[JamiePitts]

I won this auction that had a ton of old jewelry making items in it, mostly carved mother of pearl blanks, seed pearls, clasps that appear to be very old but never used (100's of them!), and old tools. I searched a name that I found on one of the boxes "DUBOSQ" and that seems to be the name of a jeweler family that dates back to the 1700's in PA and there is also a pearl-related patent that was obtained by the family in the 1800's (patent no. 23760 https://patents.google.com/patent/US23760A/en). Very interesting, but I feel like these things should be in a museum not in my closet! The main thing that I am curious about are three pearls from the auction, they are really large (58/180 gns, 57, and 56 cts). I recently saw a video on clam pearls that led me to believe that these three large pearls are of this type, but I am really not sure. Any input the pearl masters on this site could possibly to offer would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

They appear to be carved shell.

 

[jshepherd]

Can you take better shots of the seed pearls?

 

[CortezPearls]

The "large pearls" are some very nice and large mother-of-pearl spheres. Quite beautiful!
These items do seem fit for a Museum

 

[JamiePitts]

Can you take better shots of the seed pearls?

Of course! I put a few grains of rice next to one strand so you could better understand the size of some. They range in various shades, shapes & sizes, some (the smallest) look like they are strung with either the finest silk that I have ever seen or what looks like white hair maybe? Some were folded in the brown butcher paper, it looks like that may have been how they were packaged for sale originally.

 

[JamiePitts]

Of course! I put a few grains of rice next to one strand so you could better understand the size of some. They range in various shades, shapes & sizes, some (the smallest) look like they are strung with either the finest silk that I have ever seen or what looks like white hair maybe? Some were folded in the brown butcher paper, it looks like that may have been how they were packaged for sale originally.

 

[JamiePitts]

The "large pearls" are some very nice and large mother-of-pearl spheres. Quite beautiful!
These items do seem fit for a Museum

 

[CathyKeshi]

Ooh this is fascinating!

 

[CortezPearls]

Ooh this is fascinating!

Sure is!!!

 

[jshepherd]

View attachment 468466

These are really cool!

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

An intriguing collection, indeed.

For the most part, the pieces are cut from shells. Quite elegantly.

The seed pearls are a mystery, but I'd suspect early Biwa.

 

[BWeaves]

I'm getting Victorian vibes from the style of stringing motifs made of small pearls onto mother of pearl shapes. Very cool collection.

 

[JamiePitts]

Thank you all for the comments & info! Over the past month or so I have read through various threads on this forum (my favorite by far was the thread on candling!) as I was trying to research some of the items from this auction and I must say this site has some of the nicest, most helpful and definitely some of the most specialized knowledge that I have ever encountered. It's an honor to join & to show you what I won, no one else really cares! lol Before winning this auction, I knew next nothing about pearls, nor had I ever bought a single one of any kind. Now... I must say I'm a little (meaning a lot) in love!

 

[multichrome]

I see why you bought this lot. It would be catnip for me, too! Are the pearls in the small jar loose? I would love to see more photos of it if you have time! Their size and shape is very intriguing to me. Also: welcome, and this community really is that wonderful. I’ve benefited so much from their generous sharing of their knowledge and time! And kindness!

 

[CathyKeshi]

Here I live in what I call a pearl desert in Pennsylvania, and you show me proof there were once serious pearls in PA ... wonderful ... and welcome to an equally wonderful forum JamiePitts

 

[SteveM]

I have read through various threads on this forum (my favorite by far was the thread on candling!)

Seeing this belatedly. Candling has gotten a lot of exposure here, not the least by me as we all wondered at the strange vortical growth patterns inside the large white pearls that were coming my way for a time (posted at Nautilus pearl). This white shell material is quite translucent. Although the spheres show clear growth lines indicating shell, have you managed to candle (transmit light) to see what's inside?

 

[CortezPearls]

I remember when I candled a few of your pearls back in...2010?
I saw these BEAUTIFUL swirls...I took some photos, but the cellphone cameras back in the day were not as good as they are today!

 

[SteveM]

I remember when I candled a few of your pearls back in...2010?

Gem Show / AGTA 2011. We shared a dinner table with Elizabeth Strack. Memory Lane!

Image below that would have appeared on the Nautilus thread. Very large pearl, 50+ carats, which we fondly named "Badai Sempurna" ("The Perfect Storm" in its native Indonesian).

 

[CortezPearls]

Gem Show / AGTA 2011. We shared a dinner table with Elizabeth Strack. Memory Lane!

Image below that would have appeared on the Nautilus thread. Very large pearl, 50+ carats, which we fondly named "Badai Sempurna" ("The Perfect Storm" in its native Indonesian).

Yes! Right!

 

[treasurefixation]

Wow this is absolutely an amazing lot! These are all Victorian era pieces, possibly even late Georgian. Beaded seed pearl jewelry was very popular for a time and the work is extremely delicate and time consuming. The thread is most likely horse hair, as I believe that was commonly used. The seed pearls will all be natural pearls given the time period, though I’m not sure if they were usually saltwater or freshwater. I love seeing all the tools and stages of work. Fascinating!!