Pearl of Lao Tzu
Encyclopedia
The Pearl of Lao Tzu
(also referred to as Pearl of Lao Tze [Philippines]) is the largest known pearl
in the world. It is not a gem-quality pearl, but is instead what is 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 (14.1 lb). It is an interesting piece of natural history that has accumulated more than one story or legend.
While biologists would regard this object as a kind of pearl
, gemologists regard it as a non-nacreous pearl, without the iridescence of pearls that come from oysters and mussels. The interior of a giant clam has no nacre
(mother of pearl); instead it is porcellaneous
. Because of its great size, a giant clam can create a very large pearl, but not an iridescent, gemlike one. The 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" and, under U.S. Federal Trade Commission
rules, various mollusc pearls may be referred to as "pearls" without qualification.
in 1939 and owned it until his death in 1979, published an account of how he came to own it in Natural History Magazine. According to Cobb, he wanted to buy it from a Philippine tribal chief when he first heard of it in 1934, but the chief did not want to sell. However, in 1936 Cobb supposedly saved the life of the chief’s son, who was stricken with malaria
, and was given the pearl as a token of gratitude.
In America, the pearl was exhibited at the Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Odditorium in New York, valued at $3.5 million.
Much later, Cobb wrote a new account in the February 1969 Mensa
Bulletin, this time promoting the pearl as an artifact of Chinese legend. He alleged he had been approached by a Chinese fellow named Li, 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 artefact, and it had been sent off to the Philippines as a protective measure, where it was lost in a storm.
After Cobb’s death in 1980, Peter Hoffman and Victor Barbish bought the pearl from his estate for the much smaller sum of $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 children.
The pearl is not on display to the public and is currently held as part of the probate inventory of Victor M. Barbish. The pearl is presently owned in three equal shares by the heirs of Joe Bonicelli, Peter Hoffman, and Victor Barbish.
The Palawan Princess, considered the second largest pearl, was offered at auction by Bonhams and Butterfields of Los Angeles on December 6, 2009.Though the five pound pearl was estimated to bring $300,000 to $400,000, it was not sold.
Laozi
Laozi was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching . His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism...
(also referred to as Pearl of Lao Tze [Philippines]) is the largest known pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
in the world. It is not a gem-quality pearl, but is instead what is known as a "clam pearl" or "Tridacna
Tridacna
Tridacna is a genus of large and gigantic saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the subfamily Tridacninae, the giant clams. They have heavy shells, fluted with 4–6 folds. Mantle is brightly coloured. They inhabit shallow waters of coral reefs in warm seas of the Indo-Pacific region...
pearl" from a giant clam
Giant clam
The giant clam, Tridacna gigas , is the largest living bivalve mollusc. T. gigas is one of the most endangered clam species. It was mentioned as early as 1825 in scientific reports...
. It measures 24 centimeters in diameter (9.45 inches) and weighs 6.4 kilograms (14.1 lb). It is an interesting piece of natural history that has accumulated more than one story or legend.
While biologists would regard this object as a kind of pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
, gemologists regard it as a non-nacreous pearl, without the iridescence of pearls that come from oysters and mussels. The interior of a giant clam has no nacre
Nacre
Nacre , also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer; it is also what makes up pearls. It is very strong, resilient, and iridescent....
(mother of pearl); instead it is porcellaneous
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
. Because of its great size, a giant clam can create a very large pearl, but not an iridescent, gemlike one. The 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" and, under U.S. Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
rules, various mollusc pearls may be referred to as "pearls" without qualification.
History
The pearl came from the Philippines. Wilburn Cobb, an American who brought the pearl from the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1939 and owned it until his death in 1979, published an account of how he came to own it in Natural History Magazine. According to Cobb, he wanted to buy it from a Philippine tribal chief when he first heard of it in 1934, but the chief did not want to sell. However, in 1936 Cobb supposedly saved the life of the chief’s son, who was stricken with malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, and was given the pearl as a token of gratitude.
In America, the pearl was exhibited at the Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
Odditorium in New York, valued at $3.5 million.
Much later, Cobb wrote a new account in the February 1969 Mensa
Mensa International
Mensa is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test...
Bulletin, this time promoting the pearl as an artifact of Chinese legend. He alleged he had been approached by a Chinese fellow named Li, 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
Laozi
Laozi was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching . His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism...
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 artefact, and it had been sent off to the Philippines as a protective measure, where it was lost in a storm.
After Cobb’s death in 1980, Peter Hoffman and Victor Barbish bought the pearl from his estate for the much smaller sum of $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 children.
The pearl is not on display to the public and is currently held as part of the probate inventory of Victor M. Barbish. The pearl is presently owned in three equal shares by the heirs of Joe Bonicelli, Peter Hoffman, and Victor Barbish.
Value
Gemologist Michael Steenrod in Colorado Springs has appraised the pearl at $60 million (1982) and $93 million (2007). Another 1982 appraisal, by Lee Sparrow of the San Francisco Gem Lab, put the pearl at $42 million.The Palawan Princess, considered the second largest pearl, was offered at auction by Bonhams and Butterfields of Los Angeles on December 6, 2009.Though the five pound pearl was estimated to bring $300,000 to $400,000, it was not sold.
External links
- http://www.mysinchew.com/files/preview/292x300..08115.jpg Bottom half of clam shell on display in Brooke's Point, Palawan.
- Famous pearls