Pearls: A Natural History
by:
Neil H., Landman
Publisher:
Harry N. Abrams
Published:October 1, 2001
ISBN:0810944952
Format:Hardcover
Pages:232
Description:
Amazon.com
From Leonardo da Vinci's recipe for imitation pearls to the derring-do of deep-sea pearl divers, Pearls: A Natural History delves into virtually every aspect of the gemstones that have been prized since ancient times for their luster and
purity. The fascination of this book--which accompanies an exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History in New York through April 14, 2002--is the way it effortlessly combines scientific, historical, cultural, and practical information. Key
topics include different species of marine and freshwater mollusks, the history of perliculture and ecological issues affecting pearl production. The more than 200 photographs include reproductions of spectacular objects ranging from a 16th-century
Russian icon of the Madonna and child encrusted in freshwater pearls to an early-20th-century brooch in which lozenge-shaped Mississippi River pearls create the opulent blossoms of a diamond-stemmed flower. Solid information, intriguing trivia, and
inviting design give this book a broad appeal. --Cathy Curtis
From Publishers Weekly
Accompanying a traveling exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History, Pearls: A Natural History by Neil H. Landman, Paula M. Mikkelsen, Ridiger
Bieler and Bennet Bronson presents these gems in all their natural luster and social value. Jewelry and ornaments from 19th-century India, the antebellum U.S. (a photo of Mary Todd Lincoln in her inaugural jewels), 15th-century Korea, 14th-century
England and seventh-century Byzantium appear alongside images of the international pearl industry.... read more
Book Description
A book with the luster and allure of its subject, Pearls is the most spectacular volume ever produced on this
prized gem. Blending history, science, and the jeweler's art to celebrate these natural treasures-as in Abrams' hugely successful Amber-this lavishly illustrated volume, shimmering with new color photography and archival images, traces the natural and
cultural history of pearls around the world.
Published to accompany an exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York and the Field Museum in Chicago, Pearls begins with the earliest pearl artifacts found in
Mesopotamia and discusses how pearls are formed, in nature and by humans, the ways different cultures have used pearls in literature, paintings, religious objects, and sculptures, and, of course, pearls as personal adornment.
225 illustrations, 150
in full color, 232 pages, 9 x 11"
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