Lot 102 – The Famous Abernethy Pearl brings £93,000: Lyon & Turnbull Auctioneers
Ruth Davis
1 August 2024
Lyon & Turnbull
The largest Scottish river pearl found in living history, the Abernethy Pearl, is a remarkably perfect example, found in 1967 by Scotland’s last pearl fisherman, William (Bill) Abernethy.
Sold at the Lyon & Turnbull auction today, August 21, 2024, “We are honoured to present this important piece of Scotland’s natural and social history to auction this August as part of our Wednesday, August 21, auction of The Cairncross Collection.” [Lyon & Turnbull auctioneers, are located at 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh, Scotland.]
Estimate: £40,000 – £60,000
Sold for £75,000 + commission = £93,000+
Lyon & Turnbull/Stewart Attwood
The Cairncross Collection
Established in 1869, Cairncross of Perth quickly gained a reputation as a family jeweller, known for their fine quality jewellery and bespoke commissions. They became synonymous with Scottish pearl jewellery, sourcing an unparalleled collection over the years. The Abernethy Pearl, famous as the largest Scottish freshwater pearl found in living history, is a unique piece of Scottish history.
There has always been an allure which has drawn mankind to natural pearls, be they saltwater or freshwater. And since antiquity, civilisations have valued them for their physical, and often mystical properties. The Ancient Greeks believed they would ensure marital bliss when worn by a bride on her wedding day, while the Romans believed they could provide a long and healthy life.
Cartier Natural Pearls
Our frenzy for these natural treasures reached a true crescendo in the early 20th century, when they became the ultimate signifier of wealth and status. Such was the case in the US when, in 1917, keen to acquire the Cartier natural pearl necklace his wife had seen at Cartier, the New York financier Morton Plant exchanged his 5th Avenue townhouse for the necklace. The prestigious central Manhattan location remains Cartier’s flagship American Maison to this day.
The pearl was discovered in the River Tay by William (Bill) Abernethy, who was credited as Scotland’s last dedicated pearl fisherman.
He found the pearl in 1967, before the pearl fishing ban was introduced in Scotland in 1998.
It is believed the Abernethy Pearl, affectionately known as “Little Willie,” could have been growing in its mussel for more than 80 years before Abernethy found it, meaning it was created during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Weighing 43.6 grains (approximately a little under 11 carats), it is the largest freshwater pearl found in Scotland in modern history.
(The Abernethy Pearl is smaller than the Kellie Pearl, which was discovered in the 1540’s and is/was set in the Scottish Crown.)
Abernethy, who died in 2021 at age 96, never disclosed the exact location of the rare find.
It is thought that only one in every 5,000 mussels found in Scottish rivers contains a pearl, and generally they are smaller than their saltwater counterparts.
How Round is Round? In This Case, it’s Almost Perfectly Round!
The Abernethy Pearl was sold with an accompanying report by the Gem & Pearl Laboratory, numbered 24793, dated 09/07/24, stating that the pearl is a natural fresh water pearl, measuring 10.5 mm – 10.6 mm.
Tap here to learn more about the Abernethy pearl!
