The Pearl of Lao Tzu (also referred to as Pearl of Lao Tze) was once considered the largest known pearl.
The pearl was found in the Palawan sea, which surrounds the island of Palawan in the Philippines, and was found by a Filipino diver. It is not considered a gemstone pearl, but is instead known as a "clam pearl" or "Tridacna pearl" from a giant clam. It measures 24 centimeters in diameter (9.45 inches) and weighs 6.4 kilograms (14.2 lb).
The only clues as to the pearl's provenance come from Wilburn Dowell Cobb, a visiting US archaeologist from San Francisco,[1] who brought the pearl from the Philippines in 1939 and owned it until his death in 1979. He published an account of how he came to own it in Natural History magazine. According to Cobb, it was found by a diver at Brooke's Point, Palawan. Cobb gave a lengthy, detailed and convoluted account of how he wanted to buy it from a Philippine Dayak tribal chief when he first heard of it in 1934, but the chief, a Muslim, did not want to sell because he considered the pearl sacred, in part because of its resemblance to the turbaned head of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Cobb then tells of how he saved the life of the chief's son, who was stricken with malaria, in 1936 and was given the pearl as a token of gratitude. Because of its sacred associations, the pearl came to be known as the Pearl of Allah.[2]
Three decades later, Cobb embellished the provenance with a new account in the February 1969 Mensa Bulletin, promoting the pearl as an artifact of Chinese legend. He described a 1939 encounter with a Chinese man named Lee, who told him that the pearl had first been grown in a much smaller clam around a jade amulet inserted by a disciple of the legendary sage Laozi more than 2,500 years ago, and been transferred over the centuries to ever larger clams, growing to record size. Wars had supposedly been fought over the artifact, and it had been sent off to the Philippines as a protective measure, where it was lost in a storm.[1]
After Cobb's death in 1979, Peter Hoffman and Victor Barbish bought the pearl from his estate for $200,000. Barbish has claimed to have had further contact with other Li family members. (The legend of a "Pearl of Laozi", however, is only known from the claims of Cobb and Barbish.)
When Victor Barbish borrowed money from a Joseph Bonicelli, he gave him an interest in the pearl. In 1990, Bonicelli took Barbish to court to collect his loan, and the court ruled that Hoffman, Barbish and Bonicelli were equal partners in the pearl. Bonicelli died in 1998, and after more legal proceedings, the court ordered the pearl to be sold (it has not been), with a third of the money going to Bonicelli's estate. It is not on display to the public and as of 2008[update] was being held as part of the "Manatee County Probate". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) inventory of Victor M. Barbish.
The pearl is owned in three equal shares by the heirs of Joe Bonicelli, Peter Hoffman and Victor Barbish.
Value
While biologists would regard this object as a kind of pearl, gemologists regard it as a non-nacreous pearl, lacking the iridescence of the pearls that come from saltwater pearl oysters and freshwater pearl mussels. Because of its great size, a giant clam can create a very large pearl, but not an iridescent, gemlike one. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and CIBJO now simply use the term "pearl" (or, where appropriate, the more descriptive term "non-nacreous pearl") when referring to such items, rather than the term "calcareous concretion"[3][4] and, under U.S. Federal Trade Commission rules, various mollusk pearls may be referred to as "pearls" without qualification.[5]
Gemologist Michael Steenrod in Colorado Springs has appraised the pearl at $60,000,000 (1982) and $93,000,000 (2007). Another 1982 appraisal, by Lee Sparrow who owned a gem laboratory and appraisal business in the Phelan Building in San Francisco, put the pearl at $42,000,000.
In America, the pearl was exhibited at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium in New York, valued at $35,000,000.
The Palawan Princess, a five-pound non-nacreous pearl then considered the second largest, was offered at auction by Bonhams and Butterfields of Los Angeles on December 6, 2009. Estimated to fetch between $300,000 to $400,000, it passed unsold.[6][7][8]
^ ab"The Pearl of Allah: The Facts, the Fiction, and the Fraud". Pearl Guide. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
^Wilburn Dowell Cobb (November 1939). "The Pearl of Allah". Natural History.
^The Pearl Book 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, International Jewellery Confederation.
^GIA magazine news archive, December 3, 2008 (archived from the original on 2008-12-04)
^Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries
^Palawan Princess – 5 Pound Pearl – Up for Auction[dead link] (archived from the original on 2016-01-16), karipearls.com, December 6, 2009.
^Auction catalog beginning with lot no. 2377, Bonhams Natural History Auction, December 6, 2009, Bonhams Auction House.
^Sale Results, Sale 17535, Natural History, December 6, 2009, Bonhams Auction House. December 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
"Chasing the Pearl of Lao Tzu". Atlantic Magazine. 11 May 2018.
External links
Chasing the Pearl of Lao Tzu
January 07, 2023
pearl, also, referred, pearl, once, considered, largest, known, pearl, pearl, found, palawan, which, surrounds, island, palawan, philippines, found, filipino, diver, considered, gemstone, pearl, instead, known, clam, pearl, tridacna, pearl, from, giant, clam, . The Pearl of Lao Tzu also referred to as Pearl of Lao Tze was once considered the largest known pearl The pearl was found in the Palawan sea which surrounds the island of Palawan in the Philippines and was found by a Filipino diver It is not considered a gemstone pearl but is instead known as a clam pearl or Tridacna pearl from a giant clam It measures 24 centimeters in diameter 9 45 inches and weighs 6 4 kilograms 14 2 lb Contents 1 History 2 Value 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory EditThe only clues as to the pearl s provenance come from Wilburn Dowell Cobb a visiting US archaeologist from San Francisco 1 who brought the pearl from the Philippines in 1939 and owned it until his death in 1979 He published an account of how he came to own it in Natural History magazine According to Cobb it was found by a diver at Brooke s Point Palawan Cobb gave a lengthy detailed and convoluted account of how he wanted to buy it from a Philippine Dayak tribal chief when he first heard of it in 1934 but the chief a Muslim did not want to sell because he considered the pearl sacred in part because of its resemblance to the turbaned head of the Islamic prophet Muhammad Cobb then tells of how he saved the life of the chief s son who was stricken with malaria in 1936 and was given the pearl as a token of gratitude Because of its sacred associations the pearl came to be known as the Pearl of Allah 2 Three decades later Cobb embellished the provenance with a new account in the February 1969 Mensa Bulletin promoting the pearl as an artifact of Chinese legend He described a 1939 encounter with a Chinese man named Lee who told him that the pearl had first been grown in a much smaller clam around a jade amulet inserted by a disciple of the legendary sage Laozi more than 2 500 years ago and been transferred over the centuries to ever larger clams growing to record size Wars had supposedly been fought over the artifact and it had been sent off to the Philippines as a protective measure where it was lost in a storm 1 After Cobb s death in 1979 Peter Hoffman and Victor Barbish bought the pearl from his estate for 200 000 Barbish has claimed to have had further contact with other Li family members The legend of a Pearl of Laozi however is only known from the claims of Cobb and Barbish When Victor Barbish borrowed money from a Joseph Bonicelli he gave him an interest in the pearl In 1990 Bonicelli took Barbish to court to collect his loan and the court ruled that Hoffman Barbish and Bonicelli were equal partners in the pearl Bonicelli died in 1998 and after more legal proceedings the court ordered the pearl to be sold it has not been with a third of the money going to Bonicelli s estate It is not on display to the public and as of 2008 update was being held as part of the Manatee County Probate a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help inventory of Victor M Barbish The pearl is owned in three equal shares by the heirs of Joe Bonicelli Peter Hoffman and Victor Barbish Value EditWhile biologists would regard this object as a kind of pearl gemologists regard it as a non nacreous pearl lacking the iridescence of the pearls that come from saltwater pearl oysters and freshwater pearl mussels Because of its great size a giant clam can create a very large pearl but not an iridescent gemlike one The Gemological Institute of America GIA and CIBJO now simply use the term pearl or where appropriate the more descriptive term non nacreous pearl when referring to such items rather than the term calcareous concretion 3 4 and under U S Federal Trade Commission rules various mollusk pearls may be referred to as pearls without qualification 5 Gemologist Michael Steenrod in Colorado Springs has appraised the pearl at 60 000 000 1982 and 93 000 000 2007 Another 1982 appraisal by Lee Sparrow who owned a gem laboratory and appraisal business in the Phelan Building in San Francisco put the pearl at 42 000 000 In America the pearl was exhibited at the Ripley s Believe It or Not Odditorium in New York valued at 35 000 000 The Palawan Princess a five pound non nacreous pearl then considered the second largest was offered at auction by Bonhams and Butterfields of Los Angeles on December 6 2009 Estimated to fetch between 300 000 to 400 000 it passed unsold 6 7 8 See also EditPearl of PuertoReferences Edit a b The Pearl of Allah The Facts the Fiction and the Fraud Pearl Guide Retrieved 21 October 2019 Wilburn Dowell Cobb November 1939 The Pearl of Allah Natural History The Pearl Book Archived 2011 07 23 at the Wayback Machine International Jewellery Confederation GIA Gems amp Gemology magazine news archive December 3 2008 archived from the original on 2008 12 04 Guides for the Jewelry Precious Metals and Pewter Industries Palawan Princess 5 Pound Pearl Up for Auction dead link archived from the original on 2016 01 16 karipearls com December 6 2009 Auction catalog beginning with lot no 2377 Bonhams Natural History Auction December 6 2009 Bonhams Auction House Sale Results Sale 17535 Natural History December 6 2009 Bonhams Auction House Archived December 12 2010 at the Wayback MachineFurther reading Edit Chasing the Pearl of Lao Tzu Atlantic Magazine 11 May 2018 External links EditChasing the Pearl of Lao Tzu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pearl of Lao Tzu amp oldid 1122386656, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
