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Old Biwa Pearls Necklace


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Old Biwa Pearls Necklace   The Old Biwa Pearls Necklace includes:
*Vintage Lake Biwa pearls
*18k beads, hook and cones, 14k tag
*Signed, dated


Photo: Melinda Holden

  Item #423                       SOLD
 
Japan's ancient Lake Biwa produced so many pearls that the name became virtually synonymous with freshwater pearls. The pearl producing Biwa Pearl Mussel, Hyriopsis schlegelii is now nearly extinct. It has an interesting life cycle which includes a specialized larval stage called a glochidium which must attach to the fin or gills of a fish before metamorphosing into a juvenile clam. Unfortunately today the lake is polluted and suffers from the introduction of non-native game fish. The pearl industry has been virtually wiped out. I was fortunate to find a single strand of vintage Lake Biwa pearls from the glory years of the pearl industry there. These pearls are untreated natural colors. Their luster is superb.



One-of-a-kind, subject to prior sale

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