RARE LAKE BIWA PINK BLUE SILVER GREEN VINTAGE PEARLS

From my own personal collection which I am forced to sell.

Rare, genuine 1970's Japanese Lake Biwa pearls.

These are so remarkable in their wrinkly texture.

Like all freshwater in these colors-they are dyed.

I estimate 8 strands in total, hundreds of pearls.

Long before the freshwatwer culturing sprouted like weeds

all over China,there was Lake Biwa in Japan.

Freshwater pearls were cultured using the pearl mussels native to Lake Biwa . The largest and most ancient lake in Japan, Lake Biwa (aka Lake Biwako) is located to the north of the city of Kyoto, in the Shiga prefecture. The widespread use of the 'Biwako Pearl Mussel' Hyriopsis schlegeli is reflected in the generic use of the name "Biwa pearls," and the name has now become synonymous with freshwater pearls in general.

Lake Biwako is fed by nearly 500 rivers that originate in the surrounding Hira, Ibuki, and Suzuka, mountains. During the peak production period of Biwa pearls in the 1970s, Biwako pearl farmers produced six tons of freshwater cultured pearls (FWCPs) per year. Since that time, pollution, a devastating freshwater red algae bloom (red tide), and over-harvesting have caused the virtual extinction of the Biwa Hyriopsis schlegeli pearl mussel. Japanese pearl farmers now culture a hybrid pearl mussel which is a cross-breed between the last remaining Biwa Pearl mussels and a closely related species from China

Lucky winner will get a bunch of Biwa golden buttery pearls

that didn't make their way to the picture.

 

From my now closed gallery, circa 1980's,

Make me a reasonable offer and maybe you can be the lucky one

to own it now.

item 9173

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I have been designing jewelry for almost 30 years.  My designs are sold by many museums around the world. Bid with confidence, as I use the best and rarest materials from all over the world and have served the eBay community with over 1900 transactions at 100% positive feedbacks.

Pricing Philosophy: As a designer myself, I like to have a consistent idea of what things cost and may cost in the future. In that spirit, I set the fairest price I can. 

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