LA PEREGRINA 297
A
lthough not the largest natural
pearl in the world (that honour
goes to the Pearl of Allah),
La Peregrina’s almost
perfect pear shape and its
bright white lustre have
made it one of the most
celebrated gems of the
past 500 years. The
other reason for the
pearl’s reputation is its
provenance – it was
worn by Queen Mary I of
England in the 16th century,
stolen by Napoleon’s brother
Joseph in the early 19th century,
and owned by actress Elizabeth Taylor.
According to 16th-century Peruvian
writer Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the
son of a Spanish aristocrat and Incan
noblewoman, the pearl was found in the
early 1550s by an African slave working
in a Panama fishery – he was given his
freedom in return. The largest known pearl
at the time, it was brought to Spain as agift for King Philip II and become part of the
Spanish crown jewels. “Its circumference,
at the largest part, was the same as
a large pigeon’s egg”, wrote
de la Vega. It was named
La Peregrina (“The
Incomparable”)
because it was so
rare. King Philip gave
the pearl, hanging
from a necklace, to
Mary Tudor (later
Queen Mary I) as an
engagement present.
After Mary’s death, La
Peregrina was returned to Spain,
where it was worn by generations of
royalty before Joseph Bonaparte
snatched it in 1813. It later resurfaced
in England where, in 1969, actor
Richard Burton bought it for his wife,
Elizabeth Taylor. On one occasion,
her dog is said to have picked up
the pearl in its mouth – fortunately,
La Peregrina escaped unharmed.La Peregrina
Key dates
1513–2011
15001550160017001850190020001800Queen Margaret of Austria△ La Peregrina, a drop-shaped, 50-carat natural pearlLa Peregrina in Elizabeth
Taylor’s chosen designI was dreaming
and glowing
and wanting to
scream with joy
Elizabeth Taylor
on receiving La Peregrina1513 A slave discovers
the pearl in a Panama
fishery and presents it
to Philip II of Spain1554 Mary Tudor of
England’s future husband,
Philip II, gives her the pearl1972 The pearl is set as a
pendant hanging from a
diamond and ruby necklace
designed by Taylor and Al
Durrante of Cartier1848 Louis sells the
pearl to the Duke and
Duchess of Abercorn1969 Richard Burton
buys the pearl at auction
as a gift for Elizabeth Taylor2011 La Peregrina is
sold at auction to an
anonymous buyer1813 Joseph Bonaparte,
appointed ruler of Spain
in 1808 by his brother
Napoleon, takes La Peregrina
when he flees the country1558 After Mary’s
death, the pearl is
returned to Spain1598–1621 It is owned
by Philip III and his wife
Margaret of Austria,
whose portraits by Diego
Velázquez show them
wearing the pearl1844 On Joseph’s death,
the pearl is bequeathed
to his son LouisElizabeth Taylor wearing La Peregrina in
her role on the set of the film Anne of the
Thousand Days296-297_STO_La_Peregrina.indd 297 18/05/2016 18:16