About

Pearls have been revered around the world and throughout history as rare, beautiful objects. Part of their allure is the fact that they are created by such an unassuming creature as the mollusk. Clams and mussels are homely individuals, and yet, from within their coarse shells come already-perfect spherical treasures that radiate iridescence. A pearl requires nothing to make it more beautiful—no other precious gemstone in the world has that quality.

An ancient Hindu myth tells how the blue-skinned deity Krishna was the first to discover a pearl. It was the eve of his daughter’s wedding, and wanting only the best gift for Pandaia, he searched the world for something equal to her beauty. He considered giving her a rainbow halo from the Air, or a ruby from the Earth to adorn her forehead. He could have given her a meteor from Fire to light her path, but when Krishna came to the Sea, and reached down into its depths, he came upon the perfect thing. Searching the ocean floor, the god felt something round in shape, with a rough texture and ragged edge – but inside the mussel shell Krishna found the most perfect, most round, most brilliantly lustrous object he had ever seen. It was a pearl, and it was just about as beautiful as Pandaia. The story of Krishna’s gift to his daughter in the Veda was the first written record of the ancient link between pearls and marriage; many still honor this tradition today.

Artist

Lisa Gent is an artisan from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where she has a home studio in which she crafts her jewelry. As a kid, she dreamed of being a farmer or a forester, to be able to work outside; now she dreams of having an outdoor studio. When creating her jewelry, she thinks about the kind of jewelry she would want to wear.

"My work has an organic feel in general," Lisa says. "What I make is an expression of myself."

When Lisa is not working on her latest design, she enjoys surfing, being outdoors, hiking, swimming in the lake at her family's cabin, reading and knitting. Her dog, Daisy, usually accompanies her on these adventures. Lately, while at work in her studio, she's been listening to the Grateful Dead, Norah Jones, and Peter Tosh.

Details

• handmade with recycled sterling silver and freshwater pearl
• 9mm freshwater pearl
• 1" outer disc with .75" inner disc
• total length of necklace is 17"
• TLC for your satin-finish sterling silver and pearl jewelry