Pearls Courtesy of the Qatar Museums

Made in 1800, I couldn’t find any history on it. Who made it? Who owned it? Can anyone solve the mystery?

In 2018 The Museums of Qatar put together an exhibition called “Pearls: Treasures From the Seas and the Rivers.” that opened at the State Historical Museum in Moscow as a cultural exchange. It featured a collection of over 100 pieces of pearl jewelry and artifacts from the Arabian Gulf, Europe and Asia. The traveling exhibit showcased the history and cultural significance of pearls with emphasis on their role in Qatar’s history, which was once a major center for pearl diving and trade. The show highlighted pearl fishing techniques and the artistry of pearl jewelry from different cultures and eras. Online media called it "one of the finest collections of pearl jewelry ever assembled.”

I'll show you a few pieces that caught my eye. 

Above 👆is a diamond brooch centered by a cushion shaped rare pink diamond with a gorgeous drop pearl. Breathtakingly beautiful, it is mounted in gold. ©1800

A tiara designed by Koechert was made in 1913 of gold, silver, diamonds and pearls for Archduchess Marie Valerie, the youngest child of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elizabeth (Sisi) of Austria.

The Rosebery tiara was designed in London by Garrard in 1878 for Hannah Rothchild upon her marriage to the Earl of Rosebery, making her Countess Rosebery. It has large diamonds and natural Pacific Ocean Pearls. 

Tiffany designed the above chrysanthemum brooch, one of several, with freshwater pearls from Mississippi in 1880.

 

The wide V-shaped broach is believed to have once belonged to Empress Maria Theresa who ruled Austria from 1740-1780. Set in gold, its 40+ natural round and pear shaped pearls come from the Persian Gulf.

The Millennium Necklace and Earrings Set was designed by Cartier in Paris in 2000. It is made of natural Pacific Ocean pearls and sizable emeralds. The center emerald was carved in 17th century India.

̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆❀ 🐚𓇼 ˖°̊⋆

Close up view of the Pearl Carpet of Baroda

Although the famed Pearl Carpet of Baroda wasn’t in the 2018 exhibit (no mention that it was), it is a centerpiece in the National Museum of Qatar's permanent collection. The opulent carpet was commissioned by Khande Rao Gaekward, the Maharaja (governor) of Baroda, in 1865. It has over 1.5 million Basra pearls, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. The gemstones are embroidered onto a deerskin and silk backing. The Maharaja had it made to cover the tomb of the Prophet in Medina, but then couldn’t part with it, so it stayed in his family until 2009 when it sold at auction.

Pearls are timeless and elegant! What a magnificent show for the lucky folks who saw it! The 1st brooch might be my favorite piece, if forced, forced, forced to choose, even though we don’t really wear brooches anymore. The brooch's pink diamond and pink drop pearl are flawless and gorgeous! Which one is your favorite?𓆉🐌🐚🦀

If you wish to learn more about pearls click the 1st link, below.⚪

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Authentic vs. Inauthetic Coq Au Vin

Photo and authentic recipe from Delish

Coq au Vin, the classic French dish, translates into rooster with wine. It was traditionally made with an old rooster tenderized by braising in red wine. Nowadays it’s made with chicken thighs and drumsticks.

I never make Coq Au Vin the true authentic French way. A friend of mine does, spending hours in her kitchen cooking it. 

Coq Au Vin is the fancy way of making chicken stew. I take several liberties: Below in black font are the authentic ingredients and in blue font are my tweaks. One thing that remains the same is using a 6-quart Dutch oven to cook then transfer the chicken stew into your oven to bake: 

Authentic vs. Inauthentic Coq Au Vin

Ingredients/Ingredients:

6 strips bacon, cut into 1” pieces - Usually I dice smoked deli ham but if I have bacon, I’ll use it.

3 lb. bone-in, combination of skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks - I’m guilty of a travesty by substituting 2 to 4

Lodge

(depending on size) chicken breasts, leaving the skin on.

8-oz. pearl onions, peeled - I keep it simple by dicing a large onion, any variety.

Kosher salt - In my home, it’s usually pink Himalayan salt.

Freshly ground black pepper

1 large carrot, peeled and chopped - I toss in 1 carrot per person.

8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, sliced - If I only have white snow cap mushrooms I don’t sweat over the difference. Into the pot they go!

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp. tomato paste -  Tomato sauce if it's all I have.
2 cups red wine - Oh, yeah, this one stays, and I always have it.
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth - Never, always bouillon cubes with 1 cup of water.

1 Tbsp. brandy - Nope, substitute Kentucky bourbon or rum. Brandy? Sheesh! What am I, a liquor store?
Small bunch thyme - Dried thyme will do.

3 Tbsp. butter - Leave out, with chicken drippings, it won’t be missed.
Freshly chopped parsley for serving - Dried parsley works fine!

Directions:

1) Grill your bacon or smoked ham in your dutch oven. A pad of butter if your pan is too dry, otherwise nothing. Remove for later.

2) Next brown your chicken skin side down in the Dutch oven.  If I don’t have enough skin on my chicken breast pieces I’ll dip them in a little bit of flour before putting them into the pan. Salt and pepper as they cook. Remove for later.

3) Brown the vegetables: onions, carrots, mushrooms and garlic until they start to turn brown. Toss in some flour and stir to coat the vegetables.

Photo: Wikipedia

4) Add the tomato paste, wine, water, bouillon cube, bourbon, dried spices and return the grilled bacon or ham bits and chicken pieces into the Dutch oven. Save a little of the bacon/ham bits for garnish.

5) Bring to a boil then transfer it to a preheated 350 degree F oven to bake for 30 minutes. It should cook until the chicken is well done and the sauce reduces and thickens.

Plate and top the chicken with the saved bacon or ham bits and dried parsley. A side dish of mashed potatoes and broccoli or green beans completes the meal.

I know, I know, chefs swear chicken thighs are the tastiest rich in flavor chicken part, but we’re a white meat family ... Coq Au Vin, our way. Chère France, Désolé d'avoir changé la recette.🍷🇫🇷

I’ll end the week with 3 State Fair blue ribbon desserts. 

Thursday’s post.

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10 Top Designers of High Jewelry

Photo: Harry Winston

The Golden Globes aired last week and soon Oscar's A-listers will walk the red carpet adorned with borrowed jewels worth thousands (and sometimes millions) of dollars from the world's leading designers of high jewelry. 

On the right Graff and on the left Bvlgari

So let's do a quick round-up of 10 of the World's Most Prominent Jewelers (in no particular order) featuring pieces of their jewelry:

1) Cartier - Louis-François Cartier founded Cartier in Paris in 1847, but it was his grandsons, Louis Pierre and Jacques, who turned the family jewelry business into a globally recognized luxury brand.

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2) Boucheron was founded in Paris, France in 1858 by Frederic Boucheron. In 1921 Boucheron was commissioned to make the gorgeous emerald and diamond Greville tiara inherited by Queen Elizabeth II that her granddaughter Princess Eugenie wore for her wedding.

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3) Bvlgari - The Italian luxury jeweler is headquartered in Rome and was founded in 1884 by silversmith Sotirios Voulgaris who began his career in his family's shop in Ottoman Epirus (now Greece). In 2011 Bvlgari became a subsidiary of the French conglomerate LVMH. Its pieces have a timeless yet modern vibe.

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4) Van Cleef & Arpels—The French luxury jewelry company was founded in 1896 in Paris, France, by Dutch diamond cutter Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law Salomon Arpels. After Solomon died in 1906, Alfred's brothers-in-law, Charles, Julien, and Louis Arpel joined the enterprise. Flowers, animals, and fairies are common themes in its jewelry.

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5) Tiffany & Co. - Founded in 1837 as Tiffany & Young by American Charles Lewis Tiffany, it was renamed Tiffany & Co. in 1853 when he took control of the store and concentrated on jewelry. Tiffany became famous in the early 20th century under the artistic direction of Charles's son, Louis Comfort Tiffany. The luxury brand specializes in luxury diamonds and flawless colored gemstones and is also famous for its Tiffany diamond engagement ring, a 6-prone setting. The shop is very accessible to the public. Inside the 5th Avenue/57th Street flagship store, locals and tourists always feel welcome admiring its luxury jewelry.

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6) Mikimoto - Kokichi Mikimoto started the cultured pearl industry by successfully creating the world's first cultured pearls and after establishing his luxury pearl company called Mikimoto in 1893. Before cultured pearls (real pearls grown on pearl farms), drivers had to deep dive into the ocean to find pearls growing in oysters; consequently, only royalty could afford to buy them.

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7) Chopard - Louis-Ulysse Chopard founded the watch and jewelry company in 1860 in Sonvilier, Switzerland. Today it is owned by the German Scheufele family. Chopard is best known for making luxury Swiss watches (and jewelry), and its clients have included Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

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8) Harry Winston - Is an American luxury jeweler and  Swiss watch company headquartered on 5th Avenue in New York City. It was founded by its namesake Harry Winston in 1932. It is one of the most prestigious jewelers in the world. Harry Winston has owned some of the biggest and most iconic gemstones on earth including the rare blue Hope Diamond which he donated to the Smithsonian in 1958, famously sending it through the US mail. He is known as the jeweler to the stars since they often wear his jewelry to high-profile events.

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9) Graff - Was founded in London in 1960 by British jeweler Lawrance Graff. The jeweler, who began his jewelry apprenticeship at age 14, is fascinated by diamonds and collects diamonds and gemstones of unparalleled rarity, perfection, and beauty. He designs unique and classic pieces and his business acumen made Lawrance, his ex-wife, and his adult children billionaires.

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10) Pomellato is an Italian jewelry company founded by Pino Rabolini in Milan in 1967. Its jewelry is characterized by round, tactile forms and colorful, mixed-sized gemstones.

Nudo rings

Are you now more familiar with the styles of these 10 top jewelers I've featured today? If so, try to guess whose pieces the stars wear on March 2nd at the 97th Academy Awards. 

Do you have a favorite jewelry designer?

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