The Hope
Pearl
Shows That All Things are Possible
The
Hope pearl was owned by Henry Hope,
the famous nineteenth century
banker.
The Hope collection contained
nearly 150 natural pearls, the best
known of which was the Hope Pearl.
In the early days of the
collection, the pearl surpassed the
more famous Hope Diamond in
notoriety.
(The
Hope diamond", the magnificent blue
diamond now owned by the
Smithsonian Institution).
Until
recently it was the largest
historical peal known, and, by
virtue of its very size, certainly
gave one "hope" that all things
are possible - even a larger
pearl!
The
Hope pearl is a freshwater "river"
pearl, a massive baroque shaped
blister pearl; that is, a pearl
that grows against the shell of the
mollusk and which, when removed,
usually shows a spot without nacre
where it was attached and this is
usually polished, and hidden by a
setting.
It is
believed that this pearl grew
attached to the shell and was
carefully removed and smoothed
where it was separated from the
shell.
The Hope weighs an impressive 1800
grams - about 450 carats, or 3
ounces - and measures 2 inches long
by 4-1.2 inches in circumference at
the widest point and a3-3/4 inches
at the narrowest point It is shaped
much like the foxglove just before
it blossoms and is pure white at
the narrow end, becoming
greenish-bronze color at the large
end.
Hope's spectacular collection was
sold in 1886 and the whereabouts of
many of his pearls is no longer
known. In 1974, the "Hope" was
offered to a private buyer for
$200,000.
"Each experience is a
bead on the necklace of
life.
As these experiences
become polished through
contemplation,
truths are revealed and
the beads of experience
turn to pearls of wisdom
which of course, can be
worn on any occasion."
Pearls of Hope is a
registered trademark
of The Lorraine Jackson
Foundation,
a California
501(c)(3) non-profit
organization.
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