tahitian black pearls. the black pearl in french polynesia a symbol a symbol the pearl of tahiti, te...
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The Black Pearl in The Black Pearl in French French PolynesiaPolynesia
• A symbolA symbol
The pearl of Tahiti, Te Poe in Tahitian, is, with the tiara, the symbol of French Polynesia.
The legendeThe legende
The pearl oyster, “Te Ufi”, was offered to the The pearl oyster, “Te Ufi”, was offered to the men by the peace and fertility god Oro whom came men by the peace and fertility god Oro whom came down to the Earth riding on a rainbow.down to the Earth riding on a rainbow.
It is also It is also said that he gave it to said that he gave it to the princess of Bora the princess of Bora Bora in order to prove Bora in order to prove his love.his love.
Beginning of the culture of the Beginning of the culture of the pearlpearl
In the time of the colonists In the time of the colonists
Since their arrival in Since their arrival in Polynesia, Polynesians always Polynesia, Polynesians always appreciated mother-of-pearl which appreciated mother-of-pearl which they used as ornaments.they used as ornaments.
In the arrival of the first In the arrival of the first Europeans, mother-of-pearls served Europeans, mother-of-pearls served as bargaining chip against different as bargaining chip against different trinkets, knives, etc....trinkets, knives, etc....
• Pioneers in TuamotuPioneers in Tuamotu
In the low sixties Jean Dommard, leader of the In the low sixties Jean Dommard, leader of the
service of the fishing, was the first one to be service of the fishing, was the first one to be convinced that one could obtain exceptional pearls of convinced that one could obtain exceptional pearls of "Black-Lipped Oyster" (Pinctada Margaritifera)."Black-Lipped Oyster" (Pinctada Margaritifera).
In 1965, he proceeded to a harvest test; it In 1965, he proceeded to a harvest test; it was the birth of the pearl of Tahiti.was the birth of the pearl of Tahiti.But it was necessary to wait until 1970 for the But it was necessary to wait until 1970 for the black pearls to be known thanks to the black pearls to be known thanks to the perlicultors.perlicultors.
Among them was Among them was Robert Wan, the emperor of Robert Wan, the emperor of the pearl, who possesses 50 the pearl, who possesses 50 % of all Polynesian % of all Polynesian production today. production today.
There was then a There was then a rush to the pearl culture rush to the pearl culture and the development of a and the development of a big number of pearl big number of pearl farms.farms.
The production of pearlsThe production of pearls
• The gatheringThe gathering
The gathering consists in collecting passively a The gathering consists in collecting passively a naissainnaissain of Pinctada Margaritifera by the fixing of of Pinctada Margaritifera by the fixing of this one on a collector.this one on a collector.
The technique consists in The technique consists in stretching out a rope of 100 stretching out a rope of 100 to 200m at a 3m depth, to 200m at a 3m depth, maintained by buoys and maintained by buoys and ballasts on which are ballasts on which are settled the collectors.settled the collectors.
• The breeding The breeding
The young oysters which were taken off from the The young oysters which were taken off from the collectors are brought up until the adulthood. After this collectors are brought up until the adulthood. After this growing period which lasts for 2 years the transplant growing period which lasts for 2 years the transplant occurs :occurs :
•Young mother-of-pearls of about 5 cm are Young mother-of-pearls of about 5 cm are placed in baskets or fenced in boxes until they placed in baskets or fenced in boxes until they reach the size of 8cm.reach the size of 8cm.
•Then they are Then they are drilled and drilled and
threaded on threaded on rosaries from 10 to rosaries from 10 to
20 mother-of-20 mother-of-pearls until the pearls until the
transplant.transplant.
During all the During all the growing parts, growing parts,
mother-of-pearls are mother-of-pearls are regularly checked. regularly checked.
They are also cleaned, They are also cleaned, under or out of the under or out of the
water.water.
The implantThe implant
This operation consists in introducing a nucleus This operation consists in introducing a nucleus (ball of fresh water mother-of-pearl) and an (ball of fresh water mother-of-pearl) and an implant (piece of intern “mantle” of a healthy implant (piece of intern “mantle” of a healthy oyster) in an oyster gonad.oyster) in an oyster gonad.
• The preparationThe preparation
They They are cleaned just are cleaned just before the before the transplant to get transplant to get rid of the present rid of the present parasites on their parasites on their shell. shell.
The The grown-up grown-up
oysters (from 2 oysters (from 2 to 3 years, 12cm to 3 years, 12cm
minimum) are minimum) are untied and then untied and then
removed from removed from their rosary. their rosary.
They They are half-are half-opened and opened and maintained maintained this way to this way to receive the receive the implant.implant.
• The graftingThe grafting
The greffor cuts The greffor cuts implants from a piece of a implants from a piece of a
healthy oyster mantle. Then healthy oyster mantle. Then he chooses a nucleus he chooses a nucleus
(according to the size of the (according to the size of the oyster) which he pastes the oyster) which he pastes the
implant all around of. implant all around of.
He cuts the He cuts the gonad of the oyster gonad of the oyster
and places the and places the nucleus and the nucleus and the
implant there.implant there.
The The oyster is oyster is
sealed and sealed and placed in a placed in a
tub, the tub, the aperture aperture
pointing at pointing at the top, so the top, so
that the that the nucleus does nucleus does not slide and not slide and
dislodges.dislodges.
• The growing of the pearlThe growing of the pearl
At the end of 18 months, we At the end of 18 months, we obtain a pearl possessing a nacre obtain a pearl possessing a nacre layer with thickness superior to 1 layer with thickness superior to 1 mm.mm.
Different pearlsDifferent pearls
Pearls are classified according to their diameter Pearls are classified according to their diameter mm by mm from 8 to 16mm.mm by mm from 8 to 16mm.
• ShapeShape
Round and semi-round: Round and semi-round:
•Round: almost perfect Round: almost perfect spheres with diameter spheres with diameter
variation inferior to 2%variation inferior to 2%
•Semi-round: Semi-round: unperfected unperfected
spheres with spheres with diameter variation diameter variation include between 2 include between 2
and 5%and 5%
Semi-baroqueSemi-baroque: : pearls possessing pearls possessing
at least one axis of at least one axis of rotation, with a rotation, with a shape of pear, shape of pear, drop or ovals drop or ovals
Baroque or Baroque or “keshi”“keshi”: pearls : pearls without an axis without an axis
of rotationof rotation
EncircledEncircled: : streaked streaked pearls with pearls with regular and regular and parallel parallel rings on rings on more than more than one third of one third of the surfacethe surface
• Pearls qualityPearls quality
The quality is appreciated according to the The quality is appreciated according to the sheen and the peculiarities of the pearl surface. sheen and the peculiarities of the pearl surface.
Classification of pearlsClassification of pearls
CategorCategory y
OrienOrientt
Glare Glare Defects Defects
top top Very Very deepdeep
Very Very strongstrong none none
AAVery Very deepdeep
Very Very strongstrong
negligiblnegligible e
BBVery Very deepdeep strongstrong some some
CC DeepDeep strongstrong negligiblnegligible e
DD DeepDeep poor poor some some
KeshiKeshi weak weak weak weak importanimportantt
OrientOrient: play of light on a pearlplay of light on a pearl
• ColoursColours
Colours are very varied, going from the Colours are very varied, going from the light grey to the dark grey by way of pink, green, light grey to the dark grey by way of pink, green, golden, blue...golden, blue...
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