The exhibition is divided into seven sections, each delving into different aspects of pearls. These include pearl formation, the importance of pearl diving in the history of the Arabian Gulf region, and the influence of pearls on jewellery and design throughout history.
Pearls
Past Exhibition
The exhibition features over 300 artefacts and artworks offering a unique scientific, historical and cultural journey into the world of pearls.
Exhibition highlights include the Baroda carpet made in 1865 for the Maharaja of Baroda, decorated with over a million pearls and precious stones and originally intended as a cover for the tomb of The Prophet (PBUH) at Medina. Other highlights are a rare collection of black pearls from Tahiti, antique pieces of jewellery from Europe, a robe made for a Chinese emperor and embroidered with brilliantly coloured silk and pearls, and personal jewellery associated with “Coco” Chanel, Marilyn Monroe, Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Queen Mary of Great Britain.
The exhibition includes significant international loans, including from the Al Fardan Collection, the British Museum and the Albion Art Collection in Tokyo.
