Pearl river
(Pearl boat: China Pearl and Gem City: Weitang, China)
I’ve been to Pearl City so many times that I am beginning to be recognised by several of the wholesalers. I’m not sure if this a positive sign or whether it points to the fact that I am doing far too much Christmas shopping (for other people, mainly). My friend Susan and I were trundling around the Jade and precious stone upper floor when our eyes were met with something considerably worse than the pearl clad animal figurines downstairs. The animals are generally of the ‘luck cat’ variety – usually the blazing gold chubby characters adorning the bar shelves of a Chinese takeaway in any country, or animals from the Chinese Zodiac. A rotund porcine figure coated entirely in pearls must be a popular centrepiece for many a Chinese household.
We gawped at the pearly boat for a minute or so and I attempted to sneak the camera out of my bag. Unfortunately, a young lady appeared in the doorway welcoming us inside. We explained in pigeon Chinese and a muddle of English that we were entranced by the vessel, it being so festively lit, “oh! hen hao! Piao liang!” (very good, and beautiful) was pretty much all we managed. It was a boat skeleton, entirely covered in pearls of varied colour and size to complete the effect of magical illumination with an almost translucent, fairy light quality. It was spectacular. We cajoled her a little more in order that she could be coerced into allowing a photograph.
Susan cheekily enquired of the price, though it was quite evident that the item was for display only. It amazes me that even with the finest materials, amongst some of the most impressive pearl jewellery I have ever seen, there still exists the eternal tat that mankind manages to make excuses for. I love it. It’s a refreshing find in a warehouse of animals, jade buddhas and necklaces to find something truly ridiculous that warrants a badly taken photo. I’m afraid I was chortling far too much to make a good job.
