Van Gelder Indian Jewellery - Vangelderjewellery.com

16
A necklace consisting of several strings
with Basra pearls and a 20k gold clasp.
The clasp is decorated with a nandi and
left and right with bird pattern
Throughout the history of Indian
Jewellery, no gem has been prolifically
used as the pearl. For many centuries
the best quality pearls were found in
the Persian Gulf.Until the 16 th century
the pearl trade was dominated by
the Arabs and Persians, but after the
Portugese colonisation, they took over
the trade. Pearls formed an important
asset of their Far East Trade. After the
Arabs regained control over the area,
they also took over the trade monopoly,
and this was in fact financed by the
Indians. The pearls came to shore at
the harbour city Basra, hence the name
‘Basra Pearls’.
After the pearls were washed, cleaned
and selected on colour, size shape and
lustre, they were send the Persian city
of Hormuz were the trade took place.
From here the pearls were shipped to
Mumbai, where the Indian trade took
place. From Mumbai the pearls were
distributed all over the country, and
were even sent overseas to the West.
Unfortunately, through extensive
fishing and pollution, there are no
longer pearls to be found in the Persian
Gulf, the Basra Pearl trade ended in the
late nineteenth century.