Pearls—Bringers Of Luck And Tribute To Beauty

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 2

Pearls—Bringers Of Luck And Tribute To Beauty

(By

ZAL IA THOMAS]

LONDON

Favoured by Royalty and most fashionable of the year's gems, the pearl is the birthstone of those born between June 20-July 21. Few jewels enhance the beauty, be the wearer dark or fair, as do pearls. Even 24 centuries ago the valued the pearl ■highly as a precious tribute to loveliness. In a Chinese dictionary of 3000 years ago there is a reference to pearls as the “gems to beautify women.” In modern China the pearl is still regarded as a bringer of luck.

Proof of the modern fashion for pearls is the popularity of the name Margaret, for Margaritifera is the name of the pearl oyster. Many are the stories and legends that surround the pearl in all parts of the world. In Malaya, women use large pearls as crystals in which to read the future. They believe that the silky sheen of the pearl mirrors faithfully events to come. In Scotland, many girls believe that a pearl worn near the heart ensures a faithful lover. Years ago, oysters found at the mouth of a number of Scotch rivers were famous. In 1355, Scotch pearls were mentioned in a statute of the Paris goldsmiths, and during the reign of Charles II the pearl trade north of the Border was the subject of legislation in Parliament.

These British pearls were mentioned by Tacitus and Pliny. Julius Caesar had a b-eastplate dedicated to Venus and studded with British pearls. It was Julius Caesar, incidentally, who forbade women below a certain rank to wear pearls. In many languages the word “pearl” is synonymous with beauty and closely associated with the charm and loveliness of women. Moslems are told in the Koran that the “trees of paradise are hung with pearls,” and throughout Indian literature pearls are called the ‘‘gift of Princes.” According to Hindu legend the first pearl was brought out of the Ocean by the god Krishna to beautify his daughter on her wedding day Modern artists and dress designers, too. say that pearls are the jewels of the bride, as they are symbolic of innocence as well as beauty Pearls are living organisms •nd in order to preserve their colour and lustre, they should be worn frequently. The “rosy white” tone which Englishwomen prefer above all other pearl shades often become richer with wear. Pliny recorded how Cleo.

patra wore great pearl drops m her ears when she gave her lovers’ banquet for Mark Anthony. Those earrings were Yet legend has it that one pearl was dissolved in vinegar and drunk by the lovers—surely the ■world's most expensive love potion.