Pérolas

The “Pérolas” exhibit, organised by Qatar Museums, will be released in Museu de Arte Brasileira (Museum of Brazilian Art) from Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation (MAB-FAAB). Over 200 pieces will be exhibited – among jewels and artworks – showing the great range of colors and forms of natural and grown pearls. The exhibit will present the use of pearls throughout the centuries, both in the East as in the West, as a symbol of prestige and richness, the variations of tastes in different cultures and the changes in design of jewelry with pearls.

The Director of Strategic Culture Affairs of Qatar Museums, Safiya Saif Al Hajari, states that the exhibit is lined with great significance and importance for reinforcing an aspect of her country’s history, apart from paying tribute to its ancestors that, with great sacrifices, dedicated to the seek and commerce of pearls for their living. “When making it, we tried to expand among the Brazilian community the awareness of the importance of pearls in the history of Qatar”, she explains.

The exhibit will begin with a revealing look on the natural story of pearls. Will narrate about the fishing and commerce in the Persian Gulf, Europe and Asia, since the Ancient times until the present days. A collection of rare pearls and mollusks that bear pearls will indicatehow the pearls from the Gulf have been for a long time some of the most lusted after and valuable in the world. The showcase will also reveal the dangerous work methods of the pearl divers and will show the commercial practices of the tradersfrom Gulf, among examples of equipment necessary for the fishing and the valuation of pearls. The second part of the exhibit will explore the usage of pearls in jewelry, and will point out the changes of design throughout history. With it, the showcase advances in time and reflects modernity, reinforcing the contemporary work carried out by nowadays designers.

It will also be possible in the exhibit to appreciate the growing process of pearls and their production in industrial scale, started by Kokichi Mikimoto in Japan. Mikimoto successfully developed the technology necessary to make pearls on affordable pricesto a great number of women. Nowadays, in Eastern Asia and in southern oceans, it is possible to seepearls produced in great range of colors.

‘Perolas’ will present pieces from collections from Qatar Museums, Mikimoto & Co., Yoko Londres and Alfardan, Qatar.