The
Ras-al-Khaimah Pearls Museum
Pearls historically have been prized
around the world and they have had a great impact on the local Gulf economy.
Evidence of this, together with the many myths that have surrounded the pearl,
can be found in RAK’s new Pearls Museum. RAK used to be the capital of the
pearl trading industry, which collapsed in the 1930s with the Japanese
invention of cultured pearls. Natural pearls occur in oysters so pearl diving
became virtually obsolete.
The thousands of local pearls on
display at the 2-storey museum are from RAK’s waters. Apart from the pearl,
every bit of the oyster is used: the shell for design, the interior for food
and what’s left for fertilizer. On the first floor is a historical journey,
including divers’ equipment, which makes it clear just how dangerous diving
was. Visitors can also take a pearl-diving experience trip on a dhow. On the
second floor there are photographs, some of Japanese female divers, and
displays of the world’s famous pearls, including information on how to distinguish
natural from cultured pearls. The centerpiece of the display is RAK’s 12mm
Miracle of Arabia pearl.
186 words
No comments:
Post a Comment