Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-16
STORY OF THE PEARL
Interesting Book Written by
Two Eminent Authorities.
READS LIKE A FAIRY TALE
Great Notables Helped Authors to
Compile the Volume.
NATIONAL MUSEUMS JEWELS
History of a Gem Sought the Wide
World over-Rich Finds in the
.... United States.
READS LIKE A FAIRY TALE
NATIONAL MUSEUMS JEWELS
EY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

| Fly WILLIAM E.. CURTIS
Written for The star and the Chicago Record
| Herald.
| The book of the season is THE Book Of
the PEARL by DIR. Frederick Kuns. Tiff
fany's expert in gems. and the highest
authority on precious stones in this coun-
try. and DR.. Charles Hugh Stevenson of
| the bureau Of fisheries of Washington,
who has conducted many special investi
cations in connection with the use OF
fishery products in commerce. in the arts
| and In the industries. THE Book of the
| Pearl is a book of wonders: splendid
| quarto of $50 pages, printed upon spe-
| cially fine paper and containing many
Illustrations Of famous women. living and
| dead. who have had valuable collections:
famous necklaces and other arrangements
of pearls The text is fascinating as
mask and contains all the information
that has been gathered concerning pearls
during the last two thousand years by
hundreds of writer's from Pliny in the first
century to the latest scientific investiga
tons. The authors have had the assist
ance of every authority on the subject.
Queens and Princes Helped Authors.
Queens and princes and other owners of
famous pearls have allowed themselves
to be photographed to illuminate the
book and wearing for the occasion the
most beautiful gems that have ever been
known.
There are photographs o. portraits of
the Czarina Of Russia Queen Alexandra
Of England. the Marchioness of Lans
downe, Madame Nordica. the Dowager
Queen OF Italy, the wife of President Diaz
Of Mexico. Mrs George J. Gould. the Ouch
ess of Marlborough and other living wom-
en- wearing their pearls: the Shah of Per
STA, THE Prince of Pearls as the late
Rama of Dholpur. India. was known. on
account of his extraordinary collection.
and the Gaikwar Of Baroda, who has
one of the finest collections Of jew
els. estimated at $l2,OOOOOO are also
represented. The gaikwar Is the owner of
pearl carpet ten and one-half feet long
by six feet wide. 1t is made up OF
strings Of pearls inclosed with border
eleven inches wide worked out in dia-
monds
Priceless Carpet Of Pearls.
This is probably the most costly orna-
ment in the world being valued at several
millions of dollars. 1t was made for the
late Mahratta Khan of Baroda. ostensi-
bly, as a covering for the tomb OF Mahom-
ct at Medina. but was really designed
as a present for a woman of whom his
hfghness was enamored-the most valua-
being. The British resident at Baroda
interfered and would not permit the gift
whereupon the late Mahratta murdered
him by giving him powdered diamond to
drink in a cup of chocolate. The resi-
dent died in great agony. a post-naOrtem
revealed the cause of his DEATH the rajah
was depOsed and sent to prison for life
and his nephew. the present gaikwar,
was appointed in his stead.
The gaikwar also has sash which he
sometimes at official functions
woven of one hundred rows OF pearls, and
terminating in great tassel of pearls
and emeralds. estimated at sJOO.OOO. and
seven strings of superb pearls valued at
half million more
Shah's Tippet of Mammoth Pearls.
A former shah of Persia had '.tippet,'
which he wore over his shoulders and
arms on formal occasions. consisting of
a strip of black velvet embroidered with
two hundred pearls. each the size of a
wild plum" and tassels formed of strings
of pearls ''of most uncommon size and
beauty" These pearls were described By
Sir Hartford Jones Bridges, who was Brit
ish minister to Persia from 1907 to 1871.
In 1920 Sir Robert Ker Porter described
two strings Of pearls. probably the larg-
est in the world" which were worn by the
Shah OF Persia at that time and also of
"A cushion incased in a network OF pearls
upon which he reclined.
Many of the pearls in the shahS tfppet |
and other ornaments worn by him came
from the famous peacock throne of the
moguls of India, which was undoubtedly
embellished with the most valuable col
lection of gems ever known. Their total |
value is estimated at 500. 1871 800. 1t was
captured by Nadir. Shah of Persia. in the
sack OF Delhi in 1893. and carried to
where il was Invested from time to time |,
of its most valuable gems
Most Valuable Pearl Ever Known. |
The most valuable pearl ever known be- !
longed to Shah Soft Of Persia. who pur-
chased it for $552OOO from an Arab, who |
obtained IL in 1883 from the pearl fisheries |
at LII Katif.
DR.. Kunz and DIR. Stevenson describe |
many precious pearls and collections eX- |
listing at the present day. the most valu- |
able of which are undoubtedly in the |
imperial Austrian treasury. in the palace
of Emperor Francis Joseph at Vienna |
and includes the imperial crown of the !
holy Roman empire. worn by Charlie !
magne. There is also necklace that |
formerly belonged to the Empress Maria ,
Theresa, valued at more than half a |
million dollars. consisting OF ia large |
sized pearls and the Baden Solitaire a |
diamond of thirty carats. Another neck |
lace Of 121 pearls that belonged to Maria |
Theresa Is valued at $780,. 600; two brace |
let's of pearls worth $163. 900; a pendant |
OF six pearls valued at $4,000. and an |
other necklace bequeathed to the treasury
$780,, 900. The total value of all the pearls |
In the imperial treasury at Vienna, |
which have been worn by various SOW |
ereipnS from the time of CharlemaR ne is |