Origin of Name :-
The name "Imperial Pearl Capitol" refers to an
exquisitely crafted 5-foot long model of the United States Capitol
Building that houses the meeting chambers of two of the important
governing bodies of the United States Government, the Senate and the
House of Representatives, whose architecture was inspired by
neoclassical designs. The materials used on the model are
mother-of-pearl and cultured akoya pearls from Japan, and was
commissioned in 1959, by the Imperial Pearl Syndicate, a renowned
US-based company dealing in pearls, from their partners Oteki Pearl
Farms Ltd. based in the "City of Pearls," Kobe, in Japan. At first
the Japanese company embarked on an effort to collect matching pearls,
of appropriate size, shape, color, luster, orient, and surface
qualities, required to execute the project, an effort that took almost
two years to complete. Eventually, after the project was completed, Oteki
Pearl Farms handed over the model to Imperial Pearl Syndicate, which
later
presented it to the United States Capitol Historical Society. The
unveiling ceremony of the "Imperial Pearl Capitol" took place on
February 1, 1966, at the Explorer's Hall, of the National Geographic
Society, Washington D.C. with many distinguished guests in attendance.
Thus the name "Imperial Pearl Capitol" reflects the name of
the company that commissioned the model, the material used in the model,
and the subject or theme that was used for the model.
The ambitious project that made use of over 200,000
cultured pearls, was part of an advertising campaign by Imperial Pearl
Syndicate, to popularize the use of Japanese cultured pearls in the
United States, similar to the creation of the size 14, sleeveless,
floor-length, female dress, embroidered with 80,000 cultured pearls in
the 1940s, also to achieve the same objective, but subsequently donated
by the company to the United Service Organization (USO); and the
creation in 1952 of a second pearl-encrusted gown carrying 10,000
cultured pearls, also for popularization of the use of cultured pearls,
but later donated to the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer Research.
In all three instances - the "Imperial Pearl Capitol,"
the "80,000 cultured-pearl embroidered dress" and the "10,000 cultured-pearl
encrusted dress" - after the item created had achieved its main
objective, viz. popularization of the use of cultured akoya pearls, the
object itself was donated by the company for humanitarian or charitable
causes or for educational purposes.
Cultured Pearl Model Of US Capitol Building
©U.S Capitol
Historical Society & Imperial Deltah Inc.
Characteristics of
the Imperial Pearl Capitol
The number, size,
shape, color and overtones of the pearls used
The "Imperial Pearl Capitol" with its central dome
above a rotunda and the north and south wings has a length of
approximately 5 feet. The model has a total of 217, 569 cultured akoya
pearls incorporated in it. The pearls range in size from 3 to 7 mm,
which falls within the range in size of akoya pearls normally produced
in Japan - viz. 2 to 11 mm. Most of the pearls are round and near-round
in shape, the consistent shape in which most akoya pearls are produced.
Akoya pearls are generally white or cream colored, with overtone colors
of rose, silver or cream. Most of the pearls used on the "Imperial Pearl
Capitol" are cream colored with a rose overtone, and may be
characterized as creamy-rose or rosey-cream.
The luster and
surface quality of the pearls used
The luster of the pearls
are characteristic of akoya pearls, that are renowned for their luster.
Luster of a pearl, which is a measure of the quality and quantity of
light reflected from the surface, is a function of the thickness and
quality of nacre deposited, which depends on how long the pearl was
allowed to develop within the oyster. For akoya pearls the grow out
period, also known as the husbandry period is between 2 to 3 years, that
ensures a thick nacre, which imparts the maximum luster, iridescence and
overtones. Under the Mikimoto system of classification there are four
grades of luster - AAA (exceptional mirror-like reflection), AA (superb
clear reflection), A+ (very good, clear reflection) and A (good clear
reflection). Undoubtedly, most of the pearls on the "Imperial Pearl
Capitol" must have at least the minimum grade of luster - A, having good
clear reflection. Even the surface quality of the pearls must be quite
high, varying between slightly blemished to very slightly blemished to
minimally blemished and blemish-free surfaces (under the naked eye).
Close Up Of The Base Of The Central Dome Showing The
Miniature American Flag
©Imperial Deltah
Inc.
Representation of the
Statute of Freedom, the American flag, the pillars and windows on the
model
The "Imperial Pearl Capitol" a model of perfect
proportions, has a "Statute of Freedom" of proportionate size on top of
the dome. The windows on the model are made of mother-of-pearl. The
miniature American flag at the base of the central dome in front, is
made of platinum. The stars on the flag are diamonds, on a field of
brilliant blue sapphires. The stripes on the flag are alternating bands
of rubies for red stripes, and white cultured-pearls for white stripes.
The largest pearls in the model are incorporated in the columns or
pillars of the building in front.
History of the
Imperial Pearl Capital
The Imperial Pearl
Syndicate pioneered the import and sale of Japanese cultured pearls and
the development of the cultured pearl industry in the United States
The history of the Imperial Pearl Capitol is closely
associated with the history of the US based pearl company, Imperial
Pearl Syndicate, which was founded in 1932, by Joseph Goldstone and his
brother David Goldstone, who established their first store in Chicago.
The company was a pioneer in the import and sale of cultured pearls in
the United States, originating from Japan, and was the first to import
and popularize the famous akoya pearls from Japan, that gave a big boost
to the industry. The company's involvement in the cultured pearl trade
lead to the establishment of close working relationships with most of
the companies in Japan, involved in the cultured pearl industry, the
producers as well as the marketers. The expertise gained by the company
in the cultured pearl industry, helped them to pioneer the development
of this industry in the United States.
Imperial Pearl
Syndicate's contribution in re-organizing the Japanese cultured pearl
industry after World War II.
The company also made a significant contribution to
the pearl farming industry, by developing a special anesthetic solution
in the early 1950s, that anesthetized oysters, enabling the painless
introduction of irritants into them by injection, that drastically
reduced the mortality rate of the oysters after implantation. But
undoubtedly, the greatest contribution of the company, particularly by
Joseph Goldstone, was the assistance he rendered in 1947, at the request
of the United States Government, in reorganizing the devastated cultured
pearl industry of Japan, caused by the second world war. Working under
General Douglas McArthur, Joseph Goldstone helped to re-organize the
cultured-pearl industry, and also set up quality standards, and got a
yen-dollar equivalent, to enable Japanese pearl culturists to export
profitably to the American market. When the so-called "Lot 88"
consisting of an enormous collection of cultured pearls, matched in
terms of size, shape, color and luster and pooled together, and kept in
the subterranean vaults of the Bank of Japan, during the period of the
war, was put up for sale by public auction, under the orders of the
Supreme Commander of the Asiatic and Pacific Forces in 1950, Joseph
Goldstone's Imperial Pearl Syndicate, successfully bid for and acquired
the renowned collection, bringing it to the United States in October
1950, and offering them for sale to their US customers, set in different
forms of jewelry.
Consumer resistance
to cultured pearls in the 1920s and 1930s, that led to an aggressive
campaign by Mikimoto to promote these pearls
When cultured pearls were first developed by the
Japanese in commercial quantities in the 1930s, there was initial
worldwide consumer resistance to the new product, as the pearl markets
of the world were hitherto accustomed only to the scarce natural pearls
coming from producer countries of the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the
Gulf of Mannar and the west coast of Australia. Mikimoto himself led an
aggressive campaign to popularize the pearls which he helped to create,
taking part in international exhibitions, educating the public that
cultured pearls were not artificial pearls, but pearls created by
oysters, artificially induced to produce them. After a long drawn out
campaign again vested interests, Mikimoto was able to refute the
mistaken notion, that cultured pearls were only cheap imitations of the
real natural pearls. Mikimoto even went to the extent of burning tons of
low-quality cultured pearls in 1932, to instill consumer confidence.
Mikimoto adopts the
strategy of exhibiting models of renowned landmarks encrusted with
cultured pearls at international exhibitions, to promote his cultured
pearls
Mikimoto personally took part in several
international exhibitions to promote cultured pearls. The first
international exhibition in which he took part was the Philadelphia
World Exposition held in 1926, where he displayed a replica of a
five-storied pagoda, covered with cultured pearls. Then in 1933, he took
part in the Chicago World Fair, where he exhibited a model of George
Washington's residence, covered with cultured pearls. In 1937, he
displayed the "Wheel of Arrows" (Yaguruma), encrusted with cultured
pearls at the Paris Exposition. In 1939, he participated in the New York
World Fair, where he displayed a replica of the "Liberty Bell" covered
with cultured pearls. Such aggressive advertising campaigns carried out
personally by Mikimoto, eventually led to the acceptance of cultured
pearls as authentic, by the general public, and particularly the
consumers of the United States and Europe.
Joseph Goldstone also
adopts an aggressive advertising policy to promote his pearls. He
designs two pearl embroidered dresses one in 1940 and the other in 1952,
to achieve the same end, but the dresses were later donated for
charitable causes
In keeping with the strategy adopted by Mikimoto to
popularize his cultured pearls, Joseph Goldstone too adopted an
aggressive advertising campaign to popularize the cultured pearls
marketed by his company. In the 1940s he pioneered a unique marketing
strategy that featured some of Hollywood's most popular actresses such
as Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple and Loretta Young in advertisements
of the company, to promote his cultured pearls. In 1940 and in 1952,
Joseph Goldstone slightly modified Mikimoto's strategy, and instead of
creating models of any renowned landmarks, designed two fabulous pearl
encrusted dresses, which were later worn by celebrities, driving home
the desired message more effectively. The sleeveless, floor-length dress
created in the early 1940s, was embroidered with 80,000 cultured pearls,
and had a weight of 50 pounds (22.7 Kg). After the pearl-embroidered
dress was successfully used in its promotional campaign, David
Goldstone, the vice-president of Imperial Pearl Syndicate, gifted the
unique dress to the United Service organization (USO), to help raise
funds for its activities. The dress was personally handed over by David
Goldstone to Mrs. Irwing Berlin, member of the USO's National Women's
Committee. The dress was subsequently dismantled into eighty packages of
1,000 pearls each, and sent to departmental stores in large cities, and
sold at the rate of one dollar each, realizing a total of $80,000, for
the benefit of the USO.
The pearl-embroidered dress designed in 1952, was
made up of 10,000 cultured pearls, and estimated to cost $100,000. The
dress was exhibited in 20 cities across the United States, and at one of
the displays the renowned TV and screen star Nina Foch appeared in
public wearing the dress. Like the 80,000-pearl dress created in 1940,
after the successful promotion campaign, the 10,000-pearl dress was also
donated for a humanitarian cause, the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for
Cancer Research.
The creation of the
"Imperial Pearl Capitol" was in keeping with Mikimoto's
tradition of creating models of renowned landmarks to promote cultured pearls
Joseph Goldstone the president and founder of the
Imperial Pearl Syndicate died in 1957. In 1959, two years after his
death, the company commissioned the "Imperial Pearl Capitol" from their
partners in Japan, Oteki Pearl Farms Ltd. based in the city of Kobe. The
creation of the "Imperial Pearl Capital" a model of the famous landmark
in Washington D.C. was totally in keeping with the tradition set by
Mikimoto himself, in the 1920s and 1930s, who created several such
models, such as George Washington's residence, the Liberty Bell etc.
covered with pearls, and displayed at international exhibitions, for the
promotion of his pearls. However, the incorporation of 217,569 cultured
akoya pearls, is unprecedented in the history of creation of such
models. The "Imperial Pearl Capitol" not only served as a promotion for
cultured pearls in the short term, but subsequently after the model was
donated to the United States Capitol Historical Society on February 1,
1966, the model continued to promote the cause of cultured pearls, in
the long term, when it was put under public display by the society. The
"Imperial Pearl Capitol" remained on public display at the society for
almost 40 years, until the year 2005.
Estimates of the
value of the Imperial Pearl Capitol
In the year 1966, when the "Imperial Pearl Capitol"
was donated to the United States Capitol Historical Society, the total
value of the model was estimated at $250,000, and the miniature American
flag alone made of platinum and set with sapphires, rubies and pearls
was valued at $5,000. Twenty two years later in 1988, the Imperial Pearl
Capitol was appraised by Boone-Sons Inc. of McLean, VA, with the
following comment :-"It is our opinion, to replace this fabulous
replica, the cost would be approximately $640,000, wholesale, a very
conservative amount." If the 217,569 high-quality pearls were broken
down to necklaces of 50 pearls each, it would result in 4352 necklaces.
If each necklace was priced at approximately $150, the total value of
all the necklaces would be $652,800. This would be another way of
estimating the approximate value of the "Imperial Pearl Capitol."
The United States
Capitol Historical Society decides to put up the "Imperial Pearl
Capitol" for sale in November 2005
In the year 2005, the United States Capitol
Historical Society, that had owned and displayed the "Imperial Pearl
Capitol" to the general public for nearly 40 years, decided to sell the
masterpiece by public auction, and entrusted the auction house, Sloans &
Kenyon Fine Art Auctioneers based in Bethesda, Maryland, to offer the
piece for auction at one of their regular sales. The reasons given by
the Society for auctioning the masterpiece was :- 1) The lack of
adequate space to display the "Imperial Pearl Capitol" to the public,
enabling the appreciation of its fine workmanship by a broad audience.
2) To generate funds for the Society's educational mission, which was
considered its first priority.
The sale is entrusted
to Sloans & Kenyon of Maryland, which fixes the auction for November 5
and 6, 2005.
Sloans & Kenyon fixed the auction for November 5 & 6,
2005, as part of an impressive collection of fine art and other
memorabilia, that included the provocative and controversial oil on
canvas nude "Phryne" by the Brazilian artist Antonio Parreiras; a rare
jewelry box carved by Malcolm X during his incarceration at Charlestown
Prison, Massachusetts, in 1952; a fine Frederic Remington water
color of "Buffalo Soldier" leader Colonel Watson; the "World's Largest
Rubber Band Ball," weighing over 3,120 pounds, that had entered the
Guinness Book of World Records; signed first editions of various
literary works, such as John F. Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage,"
and Scott Fitzgerald's "Tender is the Night;" a landscape painting by
President Dwight D. Eisenhower; a George Washington revolutionary war
order written at Valley Forge; a Civil War painting by Julian Scott
depicting the Battle of Haymarket, Virginia; "Orange Geometrics" a
painting by Frank Sinatra; and an assortment of other Hollywood
memorabilia.
The "Imperial Pearl
Capitol" was withdrawn from the sale after the highest bid failed to
meet the reserve price.
The pre-sale estimate of the "Imperial Pearl Capitol"
was placed at between $100,000 to $125,000. The model was covered by a
new case fashioned by the Society for security and display purposes, and
was accompanied by documents and photographs, dating back to 1965, such
as photographs of the Imperial Pearl Capitol with representatives of
Imperial Pearl Syndicate, and the original invitation for the unveiling
ceremony of February 1, 1966. However, the highest bid achieved at the
auction for the "Imperial Pearl Capitol" was $90,000, which fell short
of meeting its reserve, and the celebrated item was withdrawn from the
sale.
The United States
Capitol Historical Society initiates negotiations with Imperial-Deltah
Inc. the donors of the "Imperial Pearl Capitol" for its return to the
company
Following the unsuccessful bid to get a reasonable
price for the "Imperial Pearl Capitol" the United States Capitol
Historical Society which needed funds for its educational mission,
started negotiations with the donors of the masterpiece, Imperial Pearl
Syndicate, to return the "Imperial Pearl Capitol" to the company,
perhaps in exchange for financial support of its programs. Jonathan
Louttit led the negotiations on behalf of the Society, and the company
which had now become the Imperial-Deltah Inc. after merger with Pearls
by Deltah, and was owned and managed by the Bazar Group, was represented
by Mr. Bazar.
A letter written by the United States Capitol
Historical Society to Mr. Bazar of Imperial-Deltah Inc. lays out the
reasons that prompted the Society to dispose of the Imperial Pearl
Capitol; the Society's need for funds to further their objectives; the
unsuccessful attempt made by the Society to dispose of the model by
public auction; and the reasons why the Imperial Pearl Syndicate should
re-acquire the masterpiece from the Society. The letter ended as follows
:- "We hope that the pearl capitol will find a home in a showroom or
building lobby where its fine workmanship can be appreciated by a broad
audience. Since this item was created by the Imperial Pearl Syndicate
and you remain the premier pearl company in America, you would provide
the ideal setting for this unique model. It is an absolutely beautiful
piece."
An agreement was
signed on December 21, 2005, for the return of the Imperial Pearl
Capitol to Imperial-Deltah Inc. after nearly 40 years
The negotiations were concluded successfully, and on
December 21, 2005, an agreement was signed at the Explorer's Hall of the
National Geographic Society, Washington DC - the same venue where the
model was unveiled in 1966, nearly 40 years ago - to return the
"Imperial Pearl Capitol" to Imperial-Deltah Inc. The terms of the
agreement was not made public.
Imperial-Deltah Inc.
uses the "Imperial Pearl Capitol," together with the "Imperial Crown"
and "Imperial Hong-Kong Pearl" for the promotion of cultured pearls
Thus, the "Imperial Pearl Capitol" joined the
treasures of the Imperial-Deltah Inc. that also included the renowned
pearl studded "Imperial Crown" and the historic "Imperial Hong
Kong Pearl" aka the "Miracle of the Sea" believed to have been owned at
one time by Empress Dowager Tz'u-Hsi, who ruled China for 47 years from
1861 to 1908. The company planned to display the "Imperial Pearl
Capitol" at various jewelry shows and exhibitions to promote cultured
pearls, in keeping with the original objectives of the creators of the
masterpiece, and also make it available to jewelers for pearl promotion
events.
A short history of
the United States Capitol Building
Construction work on
the "Capitol," the symbol of democracy of the United States, began in
1793 and was completed in 1811
A comprehensive account of the "Imperial Pearl
Capitol" would not be complete, without a brief history of the Capitol
Building itself, whose architectural style has been characterized as
Neoclassical. Known as the "United States Capitol" the building that
houses the meeting chambers of two of the governing bodies of the US
Government, the Senate and the House of Representatives, has become a
symbol of democracy in America, and ranks among the most architecturally
impressive buildings in the United States. The foundation for the
building was laid by George Washington himself on September 18, 1793.
The design for the building was chosen following a competition, proposed
by President George Washington and Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson.
The design submitted by Dr. William Thornton, a Scottish-trained
physician living in the British West Indies, was finally chosen for the
project, and was commended by George Washington for its "grandeur,
simplicity and beauty" and also praised by Thomas Jefferson. Thornton's
design was inspired by the east front of the Louvre, as well as the
Roman Pantheon for the center portion of the design. The actual
construction of the building was entrusted to a trained French
architect, Stephen Hallet, who was appointed as superintendent of
construction, and who worked with Thornton to make certain revisions to
the original plan. Hallet was eventually dismissed by Jefferson in 1794
for making inappropriate design changes and was replaced by George
Hadfield, who too was replaced in 1798 for the same reason, by James
Hoban, the winner of the competition for President's House, under whose
supervision the north wing (Senate wing) was completed, for the first
session of Congress on November 17, 1800. Construction again resumed in
1803, under the supervision of Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who completed the
south wing (House wing) in 1811.
The Western Front Of The U.S Capitol Building
British troops set
fire to the Capitol building in 1814, during the course of the war of
1812. Restoration completed in 1819.
Soon after the completion of both wings, the War of
1812 with Britain, broke out, and British troops set fire to the Capitol
building on August 24, 1814. Luckily a rainstorm prevented the complete
destruction of the building. Reconstruction under Latrobe began again in
1815, who made changes to the buildings interior design, and introduced
new materials such as marble. Latrobe resigned in 1817, and was
succeeded by Charles Bulfinch, a Boston architect, who completed the
restoration by 1819. Bulfinch was also responsible for re-designing the
central section, that included the first dome.
George Washington- The First President Of The United
States
Thomas Jefferson- Secretary Of State Under George
Washington & 3rd President Of The United States
Expansion of the
"Capitol" and the construction of the new dome began in the 1850s and
was
finally completed in 1868.
In 1850, an urgent need for the expansion of the
"Capitol" was realized as the building could no longer accommodate the
increase in number of Senators and members of the House of
Representatives. A second competition was held for the best plan to
extend the "Capitol" and five plans were chosen, and Thomas Walter was
appointed to supervise the construction of the extensions. Walter's main
task was to ensure that the extensions conformed to the existing style
of the building, He also used marble for the exterior instead of
sandstone, that deteriorated quickly. As the extensions were completed,
the length of the "Capitol" more than doubled, and the existing dome
appeared too small, for the new proportions of the building. The old
dome was dismantled in 1856, and work began on a new fireproof cast-iron
dome, three times the height of the original dome, and 100 feet in
diameter. Construction work was suspended during the American civil war
in 1861, and the "Capitol" was used as a military barracks, hospital and
bakery. However, construction resumed in 1862, under the orders of
Abraham Lincoln, and the work on the dome and the extensions were
finally completed in 1868, under Walter's assistant Edward Clark. A
second fire in 1898, showed the need for fireproofing of the building,
and the reconstruction of the damaged wing and the fireproofing of the
building was carried out under Clark's successor Elliot Woods.
Modifications carried out to the building in the 20th century, from 1959
to 1960, added 102 more rooms, by the east front extension. The
stonework was also changed from sandstone to Georgia marble. Since then
emphasis has been on strengthening, renovating and preserving the
building, rather than any further extensions.
Aerial view of the Capitol Building and surroundings
The location, extent
and origin of the name "Capitol"
The "Capitol" is located on the Capitol Hill, at the
east end of the National Mall. The building covers a ground area of
175,170 sq.ft., but the entire Capitol Grounds covers an area of
approximately 274 acres. The statute on top of the dome is the Statute
of Freedom. Underground tunnels and a private underground railway,
connect the main Capitol building with each of the Congressional office
buildings in the surrounding complex. It was Thomas Jefferson who
insisted that the legislative building be called the "Capitol" rather
than the "Congress House." The name "Capitol" comes from the Latin "city
on a hill" and is associated with the Roman temple to Jupiter Optimus
Maximus on Capitoline Hill.
You are welcome to discuss this
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world in our
FORUMS (forums.internetstones.com)
Related :-
1)
The Imperial Hong Kong Pearl
2)
The Marilynn Monroe Pearl Necklace
External Links :-
1)
United States Capitol Historical Society
References :-
1) Imperial Pearl Capitol Comes Home after 40 years -
www.pearls.com
2) Pearl Perspectives - Imperial Pearl Capitol Comes
Home After 40 Years - www.pearls.com
3) Sloans & Kenyon to Auction Extraordinary Selection
of Eclectic Americana Nov. 5-6.
www.liveauctioneers.com
4) United States Capitol - From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia.
5) USCapitol - www.nps.gov
