Natural Pearls, a Timeless Legacy: The Alfardan Collection

HUSSAIN IBRAHIM ALFARDAN, TEXT BY ABDELOUADOUD EL OMRANI, FOREWORD BY HUBERT BARI

The rst high-end volume ever published on natural pearls, this book oers lavish and unique documentation of the nest collection of Persian Gulf pearls.

This stunning, elegantly designed review is the rst to highlight the unique collection of natural pearls belonging to the Alfardan family—one of the oldest and most successful traditional pearl merchants in the Gulf. Divided into seven chapters, this book covers the history, development, and ourishing of the pearl industry over the centuries in unprecedented detail. From the history of pearl diving to extracting pearls as a gift for loved ones to their appearance in trade, natural pearls have been present in and deeply connected to the society of the Persian Gulf, with a cultural emphasis in the Quran, poetry, and old legends and beliefs.

This lavishly illustrated volume brings together an international team of scientists, specialists in natural history, and jewelry experts under the editorial supervision of Dr. Hubert Bari to explore the origins and diversity of natural pearls. Superbly photographed, a handpicked and never-beforepublished selection of the most iconic and rarest pieces takes readers on an exclusive journey into this magnicent and timeless collection. This beautifully packaged book will also feature a sophisticated clothbound cover in an elegant slipcase.

Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan is the driving force behind one of the most successful family-owned conglomerates in the Persian Gulf. Abdelouadoud El Omrani is an international translation expert specializing in arts, museums, and history, and is visiting professor at the University of Turin. Dr. Hubert Bari is a French gemologist and jewelry specialist based in Paris, director and curator of Qatar Museums’ jewelry collection, and author of many texts and exhibitions on pearls.

DESIGN

352 pages, 9½ x 13½" 252 color illustrations Flexi with slipcase • 9788891834836 $120.00 USD, $160.00 CAD, £90.00 GBP November 29, 2022 Rights: World

RIZZOLI