“Pearls: a Natural History,” an exhibit at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, is a truly precious excursion. After a long stay, unfortunately it closes on March 10 (and is closed Tuesdays). Our Womantraveler correspondent lucked out on a b
eautiful winter day in the Jardin des Plantes, where the museum’s Grande Galerie de l’Evolution is hosting the show.
“Perles” is science, art and fashion. As they here,
this view of pearls is "superb."
In a darkened chamber, suggesting the depths of the sea, a video intro illustrates a pearl’s formation. Pearl properties are similar to calcium. Grit sucked into a shell begins a mineralization process that results in a pearl. Intimately presented, the rich history of pearls leaves the ocean depths for the heights of creativity – more than 1000 articles, including 300 pieces of jewelry, works of art from designers such as Cartier, ancient beaded ceremonial gowns, 
rare jewels loaned by designers such as Mikimoto. It also describes modern-day therapies using mother-of-pearl, whose building blocks, manipulated through nanotechnology, are used to form and strengthen bone and as biocrystal molecules that are active ingredients in anti-aging cosmetics.
Pearls, by the way, are tres a la mode in Paris these days, not only in the sophisticated chokers a la Chanel but also the in the pervasive necklaces of stones and metal dangling in a single strand or wrapped several times at the neck.
Details: Admission 8 euros, 5th Arrondissement in the Jardin des Plantes
Metro: Gare d’Austerlitz, Jussieu or Censier-Daubenton
