Expert shares pearls of wisdom on pearls at Cleveland Museum of Natural History (gallery)
Published: Sunday, August 14, 2011, 7:18 PM Updated: Sunday, August 14, 2011, 7:42 PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Eve Alfille doles out her wisdom about pearls in tales filled with ancient history, flamboyant characters and practical knowledge about the calcium carbonate creations -- beauty born from an irritation inside a mollusk.
The founder of The Pearl Society, based near Chicago, gave a three-hour lecture about pearls at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History today. She punctuated her presentation with examples of some of the rarest natural and cultured -- or created -- pearls from all over the globe.
Alfille started out decades ago as a field archaeologist unearthing mostly shards of cooking pots and tools from lands inhabited by humble people.
But one thing that piqued her interest was that there was always some form jewelry -- and the pieces were often nicer than the surroundings would lead her to expect.
Alfille was fascinated by the radiant pieces of jewelry people wore around their necks, close to their hearts.
"It's human nature to handle it, you fondle it. It's close to you. It has meaning to you and it becomes an extension of self, "Alfille said. "This was where the original value of jewelry was, in transcendence."
Pearls are among earliest examples worn as embellishments by both women and men , going back thousands of years, she said.
Her lecture was sponsored and attended by members of the newly reborn Cleveland Gemological Society. The group consists of area jewelers, gem enthusiasts, collectors and hobbyists who meet monthly, said Molly Paschke, of South Russell.
Paschke, who recently returned to the area after college and is studying with the Gemological Institute of America, revived the dormant group that was founded in 1985. Alfille said the pearl, with its naturally occurring luster and creamy radiance, has always captured people's imaginations. But she added that in modern history it has taken a backseat to the diamond, mostly thanks to heavy marketing efforts by diamond giants like DeBeers.
Photo Credit Peggy Turbett, The Plain Dealer.
A strand of silvery white South Seas cultured pearls, known as Baroques for their irregular shape, are connected with chocolate pave diamonds, part of the display presented by Eve J. Alfille, founder of the United States Pearl Society, at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Sunday. All about pearls gallery (7 photos)
Photo Credit Peggy Turbett, The Plain Dealer.
Sunday, August 14, 2011 7:10 PM
Niki Novello, jeweler with Cleveland Jewelry Designs in Lyndhurst, takes a close look at a bridal necklace made of Oriental pearls sewn with horsehair, part of the display presented by Eve J. Alfille for her lecture on the history and varieties of pearls at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Sunday.
At the center of Alfille's world of pearls is nacre, the secretion that forms pearls in layers over time.
Harnessing the substance has been a fascination for legions of fisherman, sketchy businessmen and pearl doctors always looking to one-up each other with secret processes for enhancing quality, size and price of the precious objects, she said.
Alfille showcased rare pearls made of abalone, funky baroque-style and a natural pearl bridal necklace made of tiny orbs stitched onto shell with horsehair.
She also brought examples of more pedestrian strands, dyed pearls and some experiments gone wrong that show the progression of the industry, now dominated by Chinese pearl farmers who have learned to grow strikingly shiny cylindrical pearls that are coveted for their uniformity.
Now, she said, people like pearls with odd shapes and more relaxed designs.
"People now want beauty that doesn't look like it's trying too hard."
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