Welcome to the Jo’s Art History Podcast. A podcast which celebrates all things art historical every single day.

On today’s podcast, Jo sits down with Antique Jeweller Yachu Yang to discuss one of history’s most depicted pearls - Charles I’s pearl earring. Given to the King in his youth, this pearl was so loved by the King he not only wore it every day of his life, he famously wore it to his beheading!

BUT - the art history fun does not stop. there.

We could not talk about pearls in art history without giving you a whistle stop tour of the most famous painting which depicts a pearl - Johannes Vermeer’s Girl With A pearl Earring.

Jo and Yachu also discuss two pearls which have also come to auction in the past decade belong to two very famous women - Elizabeth Taylor and Queen Marie Antoinette!

In this episode we talk pearls, what they symbolise in both art and the everyday and just how much would you be willing to spend in a pearl that belonged to the last Queen of France?

Guest: Yachu Yang

Website: https://clarkeandyanglondon.com/

Instagram: @clarkeandyang_antiquejewellery

Host: Jo McLaughlin

Website: www.josarthistory.com

Instagram: @josarthistory

Artwork:

All images referred to can be found on my website here: www.josarthistory.com or on my Instagram page @josarthistory

Resources:

Charles I - The King with the Pearl Earring:

https://twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.com/2010/02/king-with-pearl-earring.html

Google Arts & Culture Vermeer: A Painter of Pearls:

https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/vermeer-a-painter-of-pearls-mauritshuis/kALi0Fkfg9m6Lg?hl=en

More information on the Pearl Sale:

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/jewelry-and-watches/a25130381/marie-antoinette-pearl-necklace-sothebys-auction-record/

https://theadventurine.com/culture/jewelry-history/at-auction-marie-antoinettes-jewelry/

16 Interesting Facts about Pearls:

https://www.thepearlsource.com/blog/pearl-facts-beautiful-organic-essence-pearls/

History of Elizabeth Taylor La Peregrina:

https://assael.com/blog/la-peregrina-the-history-and-allure-of-the-pear-shaped-pearl/