A book that explores the deep-rooted history of pearling in Bahrain has been released by a New York-based publisher.
Bahrain Pearls: Treasures from the Land of the Two Seas, was issued by Assouline Publishing, in collaboration with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca).
Authored by Carol Woolton, with photography by Laziz Hamani and a foreword by Baca president Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the book traces the origins of pearl diving from the Dilmun and Tylos periods (2200BC to 300AD) and highlights Bahrain’s role as a major hub for the production of natural pearls.
Assouline Publishing has introduced a modern format for art and culture books and collaborates with leading brands, as well as artists, photographers, writers and designers, in celebration of creativity and excellence.
The book discusses the historical legacy embodied in the Pearling Path in Muharraq, which was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List in 2012, and comprises a series of natural and cultural landmarks and sites that reflect the many dimensions of the pearling economy.
The publication documents the exceptional craftsmanship and creativity of fine jewellery-making in the kingdom, rooted in the harvesting of natural pearls from oyster beds renowned for the quality of their pearls.
Through evocative narrative texts and high-quality photography, the book affirms the rich cultural heritage of the pearl trade and sheds light on its profound role as an integral part of Bahrain’s identity.
The book also discussed the end of the Golden Age of pearling, brought on by factors such as the 1929 Wall Street Crash.
“It upended the global luxury market and ultimately compromised the value of natural pearls,” the book says. “Bahrain experienced a major economic deficit as the pearl trade plummeted.
“Two years later, the Bahrain fleet took to the sea with only 364 dhows and 9,000 divers, generating pearl exports amounting to $224,039, roughly 31 per cent of the island’s annual revenue. By the late 1950s, the final pearling fleet had sailed.
“But the living heritage of divers continue for more than 1,000 people who are licensed to dive from boats.”
Bahraini pearls are the subject of many legends and tales throughout history. Gilgamesh is said to have made the journey to Dilmun in search of the ‘Flower of Immortality’ which grew on the seabed.
In ancient Egypt, Cleopatra is said to have consumed Bahraini pearls dissolved in vinegar to achieve immortality.
In 1947, His Highness the Hakim of Bahrain Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (1894-1961) presented the late Queen Elizabeth II of England seven Bahraini pearls as a gift to celebrate her wedding with Prince Phillip, the late Duke of Edinburgh. Two of the pearls were used to make earrings, which she occasionally lent to members of the British royal family.
Nowadays, they have been frequently worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, Princess of Wales, who was photographed with them on at the Remembrance Sunday Service in 2016 and 2019, at Royal Ascot in 2017, attending church at Balmoral in 2018, and at the Trooping the Colour in 2019.
The GDN reported last year that Bahrain’s efforts at sustainable pearling are paying dividends, with top experts revealing that oyster beds are healthier than they were even during the golden age of pearling. According to Danat field researcher Mohamed Al Slaise, the kingdom’s once depleting oyster population has made a comeback due to stringent policies and regulations.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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