Baroque pearls look crooked; are they worth buying?

Baroque pearls are exotic pearls.

The word Baroque originated in Portuguese (BARROCO). 

Whether it is French baroque or Portuguese barroco, it refers to deformed or imperfect pearls. After that, the meanings of "strange, strange, deformed, messy" were derived in various European languages.

In art history and style, "Baroque" - initially used in art criticism before the end of the 17th century, generally refers to all kinds of quirky, bizarre, and deviant things. They are also used in the 18th century in a derogatory sense, usually referring to practices that violate the laws of nature and the standards of classical art. Until the mid-19th century, it was still used as derogatory rather than as an artistic style name.

It was not until the mid-19th century that art historians gradually regarded Baroque as a period between the Renaissance and Classicism and listed its style characteristics; baroque no longer had an adverse judgment and became the name of an era. Since then, the "Baroque" has been "whitewashed" and embarked on the road of praise. 

The World of Baroque Pearls

When it comes to Baroque pearls, we have to talk about the "Pearl of Lao Tzu"! The Pearl of Lao Tzu, weighing 6350g, is 241mm long and 139mm wide. It is the largest natural exotic seawater pearl discovered in the world. It was discovered in Palawan Bay, the Philippines, in 1943.

The "Pearl of Lao Tzu" is also called "Palawan Pearl" and "Pearl of Allah". Because it looks exactly like "Lao Tzu," the originator of Taoism in ancient China, it is often called the "Pearl of Lao Tzu." When you see it, you will be amazed at the wonder of nature's creation!

Another exotic baroque pearl you need to know about is the "Pearl of Asia."

It was discovered in 1628 in the Persian Gulf. The long diameter of the beads is about 100mm, the short diameter is 60-70mm, and the beads weigh 121g. Before the "Laozi Pearl" was discovered, it was the largest pearl in the world at that time.

Although it is called the "Pearl of Asia" and was historically plundered from China by the Eight-Power Allied Forces, it did not originate in Asia! Then why is it called the "Pearl of Asia"?The story will be told below.

At first, it was bought by the Persian King Moncur, who named it "Pearl of Asia", and gave it to the queen who loves pearls. Later, a later Persian king gave the "Pearl of Asia" to Emperor Qianlong, and it became Qianlong's possession. 

Later, after Cixi obtained this pearl, she ordered court artisans to match it with tourmaline, and it became what it is now. And then, In 1900, the Eight-Power Allied Forces captured Beijing and took this pearl.

Baroque Pearls in European Classical Jewelry

Well, today is to enjoy beautiful pictures. After reading the "best in the world" above, do you feel bad for your whole person and even a little ugly?

It can be seen from the "best in the world" that most real non-cultivated natural wild pearls are not perfectly round, and they will have all kinds of strange shapes.

Although these natural special-shaped pearls are not round, they are all-natural creations. In European history, jewelry craftsmen have used their imaginations for these unique shapes of natural "Baroque pearls" to create treasures handed down from generation to generation.

This baroque pearl swan pendant by a Dutch master is a masterpiece of 16th-century baroque pearls. The swan's body is cleverly represented by a baroque-shaped pearl, which is beautiful and creative. The pendant is made of gold, enamel, pearls, diamonds, and rubies.

The stunning "Cunning Sea God" above came from a craftsman in southern Germany in the 16th century.

Jeweler craftsmen combined the original shape of pearls with the theme of "Poseidon," used white enamel to shape the face and arms, the hair and beard were made of gold, and the tail was painted with green scales and embedded with ladder diamonds and rubies.

It is said that after the "Canning Sea God" was made, a duke bought it, gave it to the emperor of the Mughal Dynasty, and then passed it to Canning. Canning was the first governor-general of India, so this handed-down treasure was named "Canning Poseidon Pearl."

In 1931, the "Cunning Poseidon Pearl" was auctioned at an auction house in the United States, bought by Queen Edward Harkness, and presented to the Victoria Museum in London.

This Art Nouveau brooch is a collection of the Pforzheim Jewelry Museum in Germany. The brooch uses the pattern of octopus and butterflies. Baroque pearls, gold, and various colored gemstones are the main materials of this work.

This magnificent piece is a unique jewel of the German Art Nouveau period.

Regarding Art Nouveau jewelry, we have to mention Rene Lalique. Baroque pearls can be seen everywhere in Rene Lalique's jewelry works... Owning his works is the dream of the rich in Europe! Art Nouveau jeweller Rene Lalique

The Baroque pearl "Baby in the Cradle" in the Uffizi Museum, circa 1695, was made by Dutch goldsmiths.

A sleeping baroque pearl "baby" is in a cradle made of gold. It is a gift made by the Elector of the Palatine for his wife, Anna Marie Luisa de' Medici in history, meaning to give birth to a precious son early.

Elector of the Palatine and wife Anna Marie Luisa de' Medici

In the wave of continuous development and replacement of religion, philosophy, art, and times in European history, a large wave of jewelry made of baroque pearls emerged, and we are still amazed at its magnificence. Let's enjoy it together.